22 April 2012: Garment workers across Cambodia have launched a series of protests to demand better working conditions and more benefits. A protest at the Kaoway sports shoe factory in Bavet town in February turned violent when the former governor allegedly shot and injured three female workers. Six thousand workers had staged the protest against the factory’s refusal to accept their request for a transportation and lunch allowance, benefits they claim workers at other factories in Cambodia already enjoy. Equity Weekly talked to the affected women and investigated the reasons behind these protests.

25 March 2012: More than 300 families are still suffering the effects of forced evictions from Borei Keila. It has been two months since they had to leave their homes and move to relocation sites throughout the province where many lack some of the basic necessities. According to some NGOs, some families in Borei Keila refused to leave because of lack of supporting documentation to claim their houses. Equity Weekly exposes the dire conditions faced by these families as they try to rebuild their lives after losing their land.

25 March 2012: This week Equity Weekly attended a seminar organized by the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cambodia (OHCHR) and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women in Cambodia (UNWOMEN) on the publication and distribution of the International Convention on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Their Families (CMW). The event served as a platform to increase understanding among participants about of the basic principles and main provisions of the CMW.

04 December 2011: There are approximately 30,000 Cambodian women currently working in Malaysia. According to reports, some female workers have recently died in Malaysia, although the causes of death have not been clearly identified. Other reported issues include physical and mental violence, insufficient food, overwork and holding of passports. As a consequence, and in a move appreciated by the public, the Cambodian Government has decided to suspend the sending of female workers to Malaysia. Following this decision we look at what more should be done by relevant institutions to help solve the problem.

17 July 2011: Following a factory fire in June, thousands of workers have been protesting and demanding their salaries and access to provident funds. Many stakeholders including the Arbitration Council, the Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia and Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training have been trying to resolve the problem.

Proposed solutions to the factory crisis have failed to meet the demand of workers, with the factory owner claiming that insurance compensation does not cover the salaries and the provident fund for workers. This week, Equity Weekly brings you details of the Arbitration Council’s ruling on compensation for workers.