Four hundred workers staged a walkout yesterday at the Soo Apparel Cambodia factory in Phnom Penh’s Stung Meanchey district after being denied a 5 percent bonus promised in their contracts.
The workers, who have not received the bonus since August, left the factory floor an hour into their shift yesterday and began to protest outside. Workers on three-month work contracts had been promised a 5 percent bonus payout at the conclusion of the three months, to be paid before renewal of the contract.
“Some workers finished their contracts in August, and for the past three months, they have not received it,” said Thong Soeun, a unionist with the Khmer Union Federation of Workers Spirit.
He said the amount of work had also reduced in the past three months, leading to concerns among the workers that the factory would be shuttered.
Factory worker Dy Na said the management had consistently paid the bonus over the last year, but only stopped doing so in August. “We all agreed to come out and protest because we have no hope the factory will pay us if we keep silent,” she said, adding that if the matter wasn’t resolved they would continue to protest.
Factory management could not be reached for comment.
