As Solidarity goes to press on 22 September, ten thousand garment workers in Cambodia are defying a court-ordered deadline to return to work.
They are continuing a strike called to win reinstatement for more than 50 union representatives who were sacked after a big industry-wide strike over wages in mid-September.
Union leaders called off the industry-wide strike on 16 September after the government called for a meeting to discuss extra "benefits" payments for workers earning the minimum wage. (The minimum wage is set by the government at $61 a month; the workers were demanding $93). But employers then victimised many union representatives.
According to the Financial Times, there is "a trend that has seen substantial pay increases among some of Asia’s lowest-paid workers.
"Growing labour unrest is hitting low-wage industries across Asia, with widespread strikes in China, Vietnam and Bangladesh as well as Cambodia..."