The National Assembly passed a controversial law reducing the nightshift pay for
garment workers by 70 percent. Labor minister Vong Soth said the reduction was to
encourage companies to staff their factories at night and increase the competitiveness
of the industry. Soth said the reduction could create about 200,000 new jobs, local
media reported. Previously, night-workers received 200 percent more than day-rates.
The law reduces this to 130 percent. Union leader Chea Mony warned the salary cut
could lead to strikes. The garment sector is crucial to Cambodia's economic growth
and will face stiffening competition from China and Vietnam in 2008.