All but two of what had been 40 striking workers employed by Phnom Penh Sorya Transportation bus service in the capital’s Russey Keo district are back on the job, workers and a company representative said yesterday.

Workers began striking Thursday with a litany of demands, including a $60 monthly wage increase and an end to a company policy requiring employees to shoulder a fine of about $750 if caught transporting people or goods without a ticket.

During a three-hour negotiation session on Thursday, company manager Chan Sophanna agreed to end the $750 fine policy, leading all but two drivers to return to work on Saturday, said Sambath Vorn, one of the two remaining drivers on strike.

“Everyone went back to work on Saturday after the company promised to review our base salary every year,” said Vorn, adding that he and one other driver had yet to return because they were preparing documents to form a bus union.

Sophanna confirmed yesterday that an agreement had been reached between the transport company and the workers.

The striking drivers had originally also pushed for overtime pay and a $6 tip for each shift, benefits that the company’s management maintained they already had.

The strike breaks just as Phnom Penh Sorya Transportation – along with the country’s other nationwide transportation companies – gear up for increased business over Khmer New Year, which finds many travelling between provinces to visit family.