Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - A ‘conflict of interest’? Lobbyists and unionists get government positions

A ‘conflict of interest’? Lobbyists and unionists get government positions

GMAC Secretary-General Ken Loo, seen speaking at an event last year, will be joining the Ministry of Labour.
GMAC Secretary-General Ken Loo, seen speaking at an event last year, will be joining the Ministry of Labour. Facebook

A ‘conflict of interest’? Lobbyists and unionists get government positions

Ken Loo, the top lobbyist for garment factory owners in Cambodia, has been appointed adviser at the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training along with a handful of other factory owner lobbyists and pro-government unionists.

A royal decree dated October 24 grants Loo, the secretary-general of the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC), an adviser position with a rank equivalent to undersecretary of state. GMAC is an industry group that represents most garment factories in Cambodia and often lobbies and negotiates on their behalf, including in wage negotiations with workers’ unions.

Loo said yesterday he was unaware if the adviser role was salaried, and added he would not be stepping down from his role as the secretary-general of GMAC.

Independent labour activists, meanwhile, criticised the move and called it a clear conflict of interest.

“If he is still general secretary of GMAC, then it is conflict of interest,” said Moeun Tola, head of labour rights group Central. Tola added that any union leaders appointed to a ministry role would have conflicts of interest as well.

Ath Thorn, president of the independent union Cambodian Labour Confederation, agreed with Tola, and said the appointment would affect future labour negotiations.

“This position will impact the workers’ benefits, and when we do negotiation for workers, he can obstruct with this position,” he said.

Loo dismissed those concerns as baseless, saying the appointment was formalising an already-existing relationship between manufacturers and the ministry.

“We work in cooperation with both the ministry and trade unions, so I don’t think there’s any conflict there,” he said, adding that some union leaders also held an advisory position.

Several pro-government union leaders, including Ly Chan Sopheakdey and Gnuon Bunarith from the CPP-aligned National Union Alliance Chamber of Cambodia (NACC), were also granted roles within the ministry in the same sub-decree. Som Aun, the NACC’s leader who previously held a position in the ministry, agreed with Loo that the appointment was free from conflict.

“I don’t think the new position of Ken Loo is a conflict of interest, as he’s only adviser, not in the administration work position,” he said, adding the same was true of any union officials working within the ministry.

A previous version of this article stated that a sub-decree granted Ken Loo an adviser role at the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training. It was in fact a royal decree. The Post apologises for the error.

MOST VIEWED

  • Ministry taking steps over Thai ‘replica’ of Angkor Wat

    The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has dispatched experts to inspect the ongoing construction of a temple in Wat Phu Man Fah, located in Thailand’s Buriram province. This temple appears to be a replica of Cambodia’s renowned Angkor Wat. The ministry said

  • Ream base allegations must end, urges official

    A senior government official urges an end to the allegations and suspicions surrounding the development of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, now that Prime Minister Hun Manet has addressed the issue on the floor of the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78). Jean-Francois Tain, a geopolitical

  • PM to open new Siem Reap int’l airport December 1

    Prime Minister Hun Manet and Chinese leaders would jointly participate in the official opening of the new Chinese-invested Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport on December 1. The airport symbolises a new page in the history of Cambodian aviation, which will be able to welcome long-distance flights to

  • CP denied registration documents by ministry

    The Ministry of Interior will not reissue registration documents to the Candlelight Party (CP). Following a September 21 meeting between ministry secretary of state Bun Honn and CP representatives, the ministry cited the fact that there is no relevant law which would authorise it to do

  • Minimum wage set at $204, after Sep 28 vote

    The minimum wage for factory workers in the garment, footwear and travel goods industries for 2024 has been decided at $204 per month, with the government contributing $2. Following several negotiation sessions, the tripartite talks reached an agreement during a September 28 vote, with 46 of 51 votes supporting the $202 figure.

  • Thavisin touches down in Phnom Penh for first official visit to an ASEAN member state

    Thailand's newly appointed prime minister Srettha Thavisin has arrived in Cambodia for a one-day visit. The trip marks his first visit to an ASEAN country since taking office and aims to enhance bilateral trade and investment. According to the agenda, Thavisin is scheduled to hold