Thailand
Cambodia: Labour ministry and GMAC clarify factory re-openings
Minister of Labour and Vocational Training Ith Sam Heng released a notification pertaining to the payment of wages and reopening requirements for factories located in Yellow Zones in Phnom Penh and Takmao city, Kandal province.
In a letter, Sam Heng said factories must not require workers to be vaccinated to return to work.
If cases of non-vaccination are discovered, they will be investigated by the labour inspector of the ministry, the notice added. Any employees facing discrimination concerning their vaccination status should report the issue via Telegram by sending a message to @KhmerWorker, the notice said.
The minister’s letter noted the ministry urging landlords of rental houses to reduce, remove or delay the payment of rental fees “according to your ability in the spirit of humanity and solidarity in this time”.
The letter also said the 50 percent of wages due to employees for April as well as other benefits entitled to employees must be paid by May 14.
The General Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) also published an advisory note on Saturday clarifying to its members the measures that must be in place for factories in Yellow Zones to reopen.
Factories producing textiles, garments, footwear, travel goods and bags are subject to the conditions first discussed by the Labour Action Committee (LAC) at a meeting on May 6 and then released in an announcement by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training later that day.
During the 30-day initiative to reopen factories in Yellow Zones, workers will be split into two groups, with one group working the first two weeks of the month and the second group finishing out the month.
GMAC Secretary-General Ken Loo cleared up any confusion about decreased wages by saying that workers will not be paid half of their salary: They will be paid their full salary for the time they work.
Because they will only be working two weeks this pay period, their pay will amount to half of their normal salary.
All workers will be allowed to work regardless of their vaccination status, but priority to work the first two weeks will be given to vaccinated workers, according to the ministry notice posted on May 6.
Loo said prioritising vaccinated workers for the first two-week shift will allow unvaccinated workers an extra two weeks to receive a jab, although it is not necessary for them to receive one to return to their workplace.
The GMAC notice reiterated the necessary measures that must be followed by factories in Yellow Zones, which included worker rotations, measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 and ensuring that worker transportation services halve the amount of passengers for each trip.
It also stated that, according to law, if a COVID-19-positive case is found at a factory or enterprise, the capital or provincial governor may suspend operations in a portion of the factory for two days.
After the two days, the governor can reassess the situation with a joint technical task force and decide whether the factory can partially or fully reopen.
Only workers in Yellow Zones are currently able to return to work.
Loo said if a factory can operate for this month without any positive COVID-19 cases, the expectation is that they will be able to return to full operating capacity the following month.
He added that GMAC factories would start adhering to the measures as of today.
Factory workers have suffered immensely from the latest and largest wave of COVID cases in Cambodia. Stung Meanchey district is home to a large cluster of factory workers and parts of the commune have been under lockdown and designated Red Zones since April 20.
At the LAC meeting on May 6, the committee proposed that the government should provide relief for workers who are unable to work because of factory suspensions or during COVID-19 treatment or quarantine, as required by the authorities.
It is unknown when workers living in Red Zones may be able to return to work.
Source: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50854041/labour-ministry-and-gmac-clarify-factory-re-openings/