Several confederations, unions and associations will celebrate International Labour Day next week and plan to have more than 2,000 participants.

Ath Thorn, president of the Cambodian Labour Confederation, sent a letter to Phnom Penh City Hall to inform it about his union celebrating Labour Day on May 1 and asked City Hall to facilitate the event as well.

“I want to inform His Excellency [Phnom Penh Governor Khuong Sreng] that International Labour Day is a very important day for garment workers and people around the world,” he said. “It is always celebrated to remind people about labour rights. This year we agreed to celebrate this event by having more than 2,000 people participate.”

Mr Thorn said participants would gather at the park in front of the Council for the Development of Cambodia near Wat Phnom at 7am and would then march to the National Assembly to file a petition.

“We agreed to choose the theme this year as ‘The challenge to workers over the implementation of the Trade Union Law’,” he added.

City Hall spokesman Met Measpheakdey could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Prime Minister Hun Sen last week issued instructions for celebrating the 132nd International Labour Day, for which the government has selected the theme of “Peace, Job Stability and Occupation”.

“The Ministry of Labour has to announce to lower national levels, city-provincial departments, civil society, employers, industry owners and also workers to organise Labour Day by allowing them to take the day off and organise an entertainment event to create goodwill between employers and employees,” said Mr Hun Sen.

He said the Interior Ministry, National Police, military police, Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and all local authorities had to ensure security and public order for people on that day.

Mr Hun Sen also asked all government ministries and institutes, as well as workers, employers, employers’ associations, union organisations and relevant international organisations, to help keep the peace and the economy stable in order to improve people’s living standards.

• Tags: Cambodian Labour Confederation, International Labour Day, Khuong Sreng, Phnom Penh City Hall, unions