In January 3, 2014, the Cambodian workers hold its peaceful demonstration to call the attention of the government to fairly increase their minimum wage in which the offer of the government last December 2013 of US$95 per month is actually insufficient.

According to Atty. Arnel Z. Dolendo, PTGWO National Secretary and Convenor of the National Coalition for Minimum Wage Earner, “launching a peaceful strike of workers in Cambodia last January 3, 2014 is clearly human rights and supported by the international standards”.

Beaten up which resulted to the death of four demonstrator, injuries of more than 20 and arrest of 39 strikers is a direct attack to the freedom of expression stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and concurrently to the freedom of association of all workers.  Besides, doing and being part of strike is not an offense or a crime that violates the local laws, he added.

The PTGWO Executive Officers and its members during their meeting last January 12, 2014 profoundly condemn the killings and violence. Likewise recommend to be part of all global actions for the immediate release of all workers who suffered in jail without a clear infringement.

Together with the Industriall Global Union which the PTGWO is a member, widen its hope that the “Cambodian Government will return to the negotiating table and agree to a fair wage to at least meet the basic needs and expenses of each Cambodian workers”. In fact, according to the research study of the IndustriALL, a family of four needs US$260 to cover basic expenses of a family.