Cambodia

Cambodia should seriously consider joining the pending Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement, according to William Heidt, the U.S. ambassador to the country. Speaking at a recent meeting of AmCham Cambodia, Heidt said that the TPP could divert billions in foreign investment away from Cambodia to TPP members like Vietnam. While there is no formal framework for countries to sign on to the TPP, economists in both Cambodia and the United States are working to study the pros and cons of the country joining the agreement.(Phnom Penh Post)
 
Over 300 workers at a Phnom Penh garment factory staged a protest on May 6 after a group of 14 other workers were reportedly fired after attempting to form a union. Representatives of the workers say that they had already formed the leadership infrastructure of the proposed union when they were let go. The factory’s owners claim that the workers were dismissed for failing to perform their assigned duties, claiming that they had photographic evidence of the workers being idle while at work. (Phnom Penh Post)