STRIKING workers at a Dangkor district garment factory were back on the job on Saturday after Phnom Penh Municipal Court gave them 48 hours to return to work or forfeit their jobs.

Judge Sin Visal issued the order to the workers of Hung Wah (Cambodia) Garment Manufacturing Ltd after they went on strike last week demanding that a US$3 monthly bonus paid to workers in the sewing section be paid to all staff.

The strike followed an Arbitration Council ruling in favour of the company on December 14, in which they rejected a demand from workers that the bonus also be paid to workers in the training, finishing and quality control sections of the factory.

The workers, represented by the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia, had argued that the company was violating Article 36 of the Constitution and Article 106 of the Labour Law, which both stipulate equal pay for equal work.

The council rejected these arguments, citing precedents ruling “that a difference in professionalism or productivity can be a basis for a difference in wages”, according to an unofficial translation of the ruling.