Rubbish strike standoff continues
THE Phnom Penh Municipal Hall has expressed frustration with workers who refuse to return to work, leaving district authorities throughout the capital with the task of clearing rubbish from the streets on their own.
Labour and Vocational Training Ministry officials, however, warned Tourism Workers’ Union Federation president Touch Kosal to stop inciting striking waste workers.
The ministry’s Department of Labour Dispute Resolution director Chrun Theravong said if Kosal did not stop or violated the warning letter, his organisation could be sued.
Kosal denied the allegations, saying the ministry had no clear basis for claiming that he was behind the workers’ strike.
“It is very unfair that the ministry accuses me without any basis. I have nothing to do with the strike.
“I just facilitate and try to get the two sides to reconcile with each other,” Kosal said.
He demanded the ministry present evidence that he had led and incited Cintri workers.
The Phnom Penh Municipal Administration also issued a letter on Thursday expressing regret for the actions of some Cintri workers who did not comply with a Wednesday agreement to return to work.
The municipal authorities have been using all means at their disposal to collect rubbish in the capital.
Cintri workers representative Rorng Saray said on Thursday that more than 2,000 workers were still on strike in front of the company, demanding that it comply with their conditions.
“Some of the workers did not fully understand what the municipal governor said, so they agreed to return to work. For us, we refused to return to work. We are waiting for the five-point solution the workers demanded,” Saray said.
In some Phnom Penh districts, authorities are calling on people to pack rubbish properly and cooperate with authorities while the strike goes on.
Por Sen Chey district governor Hem Darith said because Cintri’s rubbish collectors are on strike, his district officials will collect rubbish.