Police yesterday morning blocked more than 1,000 garment workers as they tried to march from their Por Sen Chey district factory to the Ministry of Labour to plead for intervention.

Management at the Ocean Garment factory informed staff on May 24 that it would close for one month beginning May 26 due to insufficient orders, said Pav Sina, president of the Collective Union of Movement of Workers, which represents workers there.

During that month, employees will earn only $15. Workers in Cambodia’s garment sector have earned a minimum wage of $100 per month since February.

“The factory suspended the workers without informing them in advance,” Sina said. “So the employer has to pay 100 per cent of the workers’ wages.”

National Military Police spokesman Kheng Tito yesterday said in a text message that police had orders to stop the march partially due to security concerns.