More than 2,000 workers at the Hung Wah I garment factory protested outside the Por Sen Chey plant over allegations the company had refused to pay seniority bonuses to outgoing workers.

Touch Sar, the Free Trade Union president at Hung Wah I, said yester-day earlier negotiations between the union and the company, which had been co-ordinated by the Social Affairs Ministry, had proved fruitless.

“We protest to demand only one point: money for finishing the contract.

We demanded $150 a year for seniority, but the company agreed only to $20 a year,” she said.

“Some workers are 50 to 60 years old and they do not want to work any more.

That’s why they demand their seniority pay when they leave.

” But, she said, although many had been working with the factory for more than five years, a number had never been given contracts by the company, leaving them in a precarious position.

Sar said workers would continue their protest until their demand was met. Managers at Hung Wah I could not be reached for comment yesterday.