Factory Workers Seek Extended Free Holiday Travel
Photo shows shuttle bus from Techo International Airport. Photo from Phnom Penh city bus
PHNOM PENH – Factory workers are urging the government to extend free transport for public holidays, particularly Khmer New Year, saying the current schedule does not match their holiday leave and forces them to bear high travel costs.
Standing outside Canadia Industrial Park in Por Sen Chey district while waiting for her husband after work, 41-year-old garment worker Rom Srey Am said she has never been able to use the free buses despite working in Phnom Penh for three years.
“My factory will close on April 11, so I have to take a taxi to Siem Reap at my own expense,” she said. “It costs about 60,000 riels per person and there are three of us traveling.”
She added that rising living costs, including food, fuel and household goods, have made travel increasingly burdensome, forcing her family to cut back on spending this year.
Srey Am called on the government to consider extending the free bus service, noting that factories shut down on different dates to maintain production flow.
“If the service covered more days, it would help workers whose schedules don’t align,” she said.
Garment worker Rom Srey Am said she has never been able to use the free buses despite working in Phnom Penh for three years. Photo by Lay Sopheavoteyjpg. Photo by Lay Sopheavoteyjpg. Photo by Lay Sopheavotey
Yan Lek, another factory worker in Stung Meanchey, faces a similar situation. With his factory also closing on April 11, he plans to ride his motorbike back to his hometown in Prey Veng province.
“I ride home every year but it’s becoming more expensive,” he said. “If there were buses available when my factory closes, I would take them.”
Workers say some factories begin closing as early as April 10, further limiting access to the government’s transport program.
The financial strain has been compounded by rising fuel prices, which have increased transport costs nationwide. In response, workers in the garment and related sectors recently received an additional $2.50 monthly in travel and accommodation allowances.
The National Council on Minimum Wage approved the temporary increase during an emergency meeting on March 20, according to the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training.
Phnom Penh authorities have prepared 600 buses for the holiday period, including 500 for travel to provinces and 100 for transport within the capital.
Workers say the limited timeframe reduces the impact of the initiative, calling for a more flexible schedule that reflects factory shutdown patterns.
Yan Lek, another factory worker in Stung Meanchey, says he needs to ride his motor bike home. Photo provided
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