The government has proposed to keep night shift wages for workers in the garment and footwear sector at 130 per cent of regular salaries, rejecting a recent proposal that their pay rate be lowered to the same amount as the day shift.

While applauding the move, some trade unions said the amendments to some articles of the Labour Law affected workers’ interests.

The decision to retain higher wages for night shift workers was made during a virtual Cabinet plenary session chaired by Prime Minister Hun Sen on July 9. The meeting reviewed the draft law on amendments of articles 123, 138, 162, 300, 343, 350, 363 and 367 of the Labour Law.

“Through the implementation and amendment of the Labour Law in the last two decades, this sector has been actively contributing to the implementation of the government’s rectangular strategy and the political platforms,” said a press statement released after the meeting.

“The government gives the national and international public confidence in Cambodia to respect labour rights,” the statement said, adding that through the two amendments to the labour law the flow of private investment has increased steadily, which has allowed Cambodia to reach its current socio-economic status.

However, Cambodian Apparel Workers’ Democratic Union president Ath Thorn was of the view that the amendment to some articles of the current Labour Law may negatively affect workers’ interests.

“Overall, I do not think it is good. We know that the amendment of this law came after employers prepared a request to reduce night shift wages or pay for traditional holidays that fall on Sundays. So, I do not think it is good for workers to lose their benefits. It’s to facilitate things for employers, and the government claims that by doing so they will attract investors,” he said.

Thorn, however, believed that keeping night wages at 130 per cent was a good thing, but he was concerned that some employers were not implementing it correctly.

“What the government amendment means is that current workers who work night shifts and receive 130 per cent of their wages will continue to do so when the law comes into force. But I’m worried that the old workers’ factory owners will fire them and recruit new workers that will get 100 per cent like other workers,” he said.

Em Sarath, a factory worker at the You Li International (Cambodia) Garment Co Ltd in Svay Rieng province’s Bavet town, said the government’s decision contributed to improving the lives of night shift workers.

“Actually, I do not work night shift, but if the government makes such a decision, it will benefit those who do. I’m happy, but the government should not cancel the pay for holidays that fall on a Sunday,” he said.

The press statement said that the Labour Law is an important legal framework for promoting labour rights and harmony in industrial relations as Cambodia begins to develop its employment sector in conjunction with international trade through growing investment in the private sector, especially investment in the garment and footwear industries.

The Labour Law has already been amended twice. In 2007 the amendments related to the overtime pay rate and night shift wages and in 2018 the amendments were related to seniority pay.

“In response to this context, the Third Amendment of the Labour Law aims to strengthen the competitiveness of the Cambodian economy in the context of regional and global socio-economic developments to achieve the status of high middle-income country by 2030 and high income country by 2050,” the statement said.