Allow labor day march, unions urge City Hall
More than 3,000 workers and union activists have asked City Hall for permission to celebrate International Workers’ Day in Phnom Penh on May 1, but officials will not confirm if the event can go ahead until after Khmer New Year. Ath Thorn, the president of the Cambodian Labor Confederation, on April 11 sent a letter to city governor Pa Socheatvong, asking him to sanction the celebration in the garden outside the Cambodia Development Council. However, city officials said they would not reply to the letter until after Khmer New Year. The letter, signed by Mr. Thorn and other six union presidents, said: “This year we want to celebrate International Labor Day under the theme ‘the challenge of trade union law implementation.’ More than 3,000 workers, unionists and relevant organizations are ready to join the event.”
