Labour leaders behind the biggest strikes in Cambodia’s USD5 billion garment industry knew last year they had a strong case for higher wages: they had already compared notes with activists in neighbouring countries.
The result was a 25 percent increase in the minimum pay for an estimated 600,000 garment workers, to USD100 a month, the biggest jump in around 15 years. Now, they’re asking for more.
Negotiations over pay and working conditions have typically remained within national borders, but activists are now bringing more muscle to the table and putting more pressure on employers and governments by using shared experiences in nearby markets.
(Source: CNBC)