More than 50 people on Monday gathered in front of the Ecole Francais d’Extreme Orient (EFEO) in Siem Reap province to demand a solution for workers renovating the West Mebon Temple. Supplied
More than 50 people on Monday gathered in front of the Ecole Francais d’Extreme Orient (EFEO) in Siem Reap province to demand a solution for workers renovating the West Mebon Temple after the project was transferred to the Apsara National Authority (ANA).
Chin Sophal, who worked for the renovation project for nearly 20 years, told The Post on Monday that the protesters demand they be reinstated by EFEO or, at least, be given similar salaries and conditions as they had under the French organisation.
“We want EFEO to be more transparent about the Mebon project. The French Embassy said in the past that there was no money for the project. Now that there is money, it gives it to ANA.
“I want EFEO to be more transparent about the money going into this project and the reasons why we weren’t given the same conditions as we had before,” he said.
Sophal said many of the workers refuse to work for ANA because their contacts with EFEO have not ended yet. In addition, ANA only pays half as much as EFEO.
According to Sophal, after the protest on Monday, EFEO requested a meeting with the workers. The company said it will bring the workers’ demands to the top levels of the organisation.
A press release issued by ANA on Sunday said from 2012 to 2018, the repair of the temple fell under the management of EFEO. Financing came from France with contributions from the Cambodian government.
According to a press release issued in early 2018, EFEO told the union that the project was being suspended due to financial difficulties. The project was later transferred to ANA, with the French Embassy handing over materials and equipment to the organisation on May 3, 2018.
“After receiving the materials and equipment from the French embassy, an administrative working group, ANA, EFEO representatives, unions and the workers met to seek a solution. The working group asked the workers to return to the project,” the press release said.
But 126 workers refused to continue work for the project under ANA’s management, citing meagre salaries and fewer benefits than when the project was managed by EFEO. The workers went to find jobs somewhere else.
ANA spokesman Long Kosal told The Post on Monday that it is not involved in the case.
“The protesters are asking EFEO to take responsibility. We have nothing to say in this case,” he said.
