Lawmakers will vote on whether to approve the trade union law on April 4, National Assembly president Heng Samrin announced yesterday, though the opposition has called for more time to consult on the divisive legislation.

The date was set by the parliament’s permanent committee, which met following public consultations on the bill last week.

After the announcement, ruling CPP spokesman Chheng Vun defended the decision to move ahead despite criticism from both unions and employers that the bill would negatively impact Cambodia’s heavily unionised garment sector, its largest source of exports.

Noting changes made in the wake of consultations, Vun acknowledged that the law was not “100 per cent perfect” but said even if the law was adopted by the parliament, it wasn’t beyond improvements. “We can amend it later,” he said

CNRP spokesman Yem Ponhearith cautioned against rushing it through parliament, where the CPP holds a majority. “We don’t support having it on the agenda for April 4, but the CPP, who have a majority voice [in the permanent committee], approved the date,” he said.