More than 500 employees at a shoe factory in the capital’s Dangkor district went on strike yesterday morning after managers failed to respond to a list of workers’ demands.

Pha Lina/Phnom Penh Post

Some of the 500 workers from the Sun Well Shoes Co Ltd factory protest in Phnom Penh yesterday.

Ly Veng, president of the Workers Union Federation at the Sun Well Shoes factory said that the union had given factory administration officials a 21-point list of demands last Wednesday.

One of the critical points on the list was the firing of administrative manager Kha Kok Kheang, who the union accused of failing to provide overtime food and travel expenses, and of not allowing workers to take days off, Ly Veng said.

“The workers are dissatisfied with the misbehaviour of Kha Kok Kheang and ask the company to sack him,” the union president said.

Union representative Sam Vichet said that the administration also threatened union leaders.

Va Yuvawathana, director of the labour dispute office at the Ministry of Labour, said the two sides had not reached an agreement after three hours of negotiation because the company refused to fire Kha Kok Kheang.

The dispute will be sent to the Arbitration Council, he added.

When asked about his potential dismissal, administrative manager Kha Kok Kheang said yesterday that he would “respect” the factory’s decision.