About 600 employees of a Phnom Penh garment factory were to return to work today after walking out with the demand of receiving their salaries before next month’s Water Festival.

Ginwin Industry (Cambodia) Co yesterday agreed to pay workers a portion of their wages ahead of the festival, said Toun Saren of the Collective Union of Movement of Workers (CUMW).

“Workers want a salary advance this month because the Water Festival will begin a day before they are typically paid,” Saren said.

In addition to the request, workers want better conditions at the factory, Saren said. The Arbitration Council was to hear the demands today.

While workers reluctantly agreed to the partial payment of their salary yesterday, many don’t like the deal, said So Nang, a 27-year-old representative.

“We negotiated twice, and the factory agreed to advance each worker $100,” Nang said. “The workers are not happy to accept this, but have no choice.”