Beer-sellers and hostesses form a Workers Union in Siem Reap 9/08/2010

57 beer-sellers and restaurant and bar hostesses came to a Workplace Labour Rights Conference, where University of Guelph Professor Ian Lubek and students spoke on Cambodian workplace risks and lack of living wages. Mr. Lim Sok San from the NGO APHEDA spoke on violence against beer-sellers and the organization of a union in Phnom Penh, accompanied by videoclips including a message from Sharan Burrow. Then Mr. Sar Mora of the Cambodian Food Service Workers Federation (CFSWF) gave information about Cambodian labour rights and how unions can organize and intervene, e.g., with such national beer distributors as Tiger Beer (Cambodia Breweries Ltd) and Angkor Beer (Cambrew). Most of the participants then agreed to form a Siem Reap union for beer-sellers and hostesses. They elected a 7-person executive by secret ballot, with Ms. Phal Sophear as President. She had worked 9 years as a beer-seller and then an NGO health interviewer and outreach worker for beer sellers for 7 years.

An article about the formation of the Union appeared in The Cambodian Daily on 13 Aug 2010. Read online article or jpg file