Management at Ocean Garment factory yesterday flouted a Ministry of Labour invitation to sit at the negotiating table with employees protesting the factory’s refusal to abide by an Arbitration Council decision in their favour.

Nobody from the factory came to the Ministry of Labour, after ministry officials ended a worker roadblock of Russian Boulevard on Wednesday, telling them they would mediate a discussion between the groups.

As Ocean officials drag their feet in paying their entire monthly wage for a planned temporary closure from late May to June 26 – the factory remains closed – the situation has become dire for many employees there, said Houn Vanna, an employee representative.

“Most workers were evicted from their rental houses,” Vanna said. “They still protest and demand the wage owed to them under the law.”

The Arbitration Council last week ordered the company to pay full wages. It offered $50 per worker.