Negotiations mediated by provincial labour officials yesterday between management of the M&V International Manufacturing garment factory in Kampong Chhnang and union representatives were successful, representatives from both sides said.

The company accepted 12 demands from workers and both sides agreed to forward four unresolved issues to the Arbitration Council, Meas Sokhen, deputy director of the Free Trade Union at the factory told the Post.

“We won. The company accepted most points we raised, and this will help workers a lot,” she said.

M&V rejected four demands, including banning short-term contracts. It also refused to end overtime shifts between 9pm and 11pm and stop deducting monthly US$7 bonuses if workers were absent.

Meas Sokhen said it refused to pay the bonus to workers who missed a few hours of work.

M&V director Yin Nak said the four demands it rejected were not required by the Labour Law. He also said M&V had never forced staff to work overtime between 9pm and 11pm.

“They work because they need money, we don’t force them,” he said.