Cintri rubbish collectors sent a petition to the Phnom Penh Municipal Hall on Tuesday requesting a new negotiation on Wednesday, according to a representative.

The workers promised to return to the job if the municipal hall confirms a specific date to provide them with compensation.

Mi Phan, the secretary-general of Cintri’s Tourism Federation, told The Post on Tuesday the workers request a solution.

The petition called for their five original demands to be met, which Phnom Penh municipal governor Khuong Sreng promised to give them after the end of the contract with the company.

“Because workers see they cannot get what they want immediately, they decided to send a letter to the municipal hall to negotiate an end to the dispute. Workers will possibly agree with the October 7 report,” he said, referring to the minutes of the October 7 meeting.

“They only want accuracy and specific dates,” he said.

According to the mediation report, the company said it will tackle worker requests after the end of the contract and under the labour law. The Phnom Penh Municipal Administration ensures workers will not lose their jobs.

Phan said: “The previous negotiation was not specific about dates in granting the request to workers. This time there may be a specific one. There will be informal talks between the union and municipal hall officials,” he said.

Pov Sopheak, a Cintri driver since 2002, said he will go back to work if there is a specific date to compensate workers.

“We requested five points. If they agree to three or [at least] two points, I will agree too. But they have to limit it to a particular month. For example, workers will be compensated in November or December according to their demand. I will agree because there is a specific date,” he said.

The Phnom Penh governor said on Monday after a meeting with the leaders of the capital’s 14 districts that the authorities managed to collect more than 2,500 tonnes per day out of a total of more than 2,800 tonnes.