Massage workers strike in Siem Reap

[geovalin]

Mom Kunthear

More than 70 workers from a Korean-owned massage centre in the tourist hub of Siem Reap protested in front of their workplace yesterday, demanding a basic wage of $177 per month and a $100 yearly health bonus.

Workers from the Alaska Massage Center have been on strike since Friday following their employer’s repeated refusal to increase wages, said Eang Kenghuy, a masseur and the head of the centre’s Cambodian Food and Service Workers’ Federation (CFSWF) union chapter.

“The authorities asked workers to suspend our strike for a month to find a resolution. But we have not agreed because we have been asking our employer for higher wages and health bonuses since February, but we have had no results,” he said.

read more: http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/massage-workers-strike-siem-reap

[kanderson]

Koren

Siem Reap

Really ?

[Jip99]

There is a lot of Korean investment in Siem Reap.

[BKKSnowBird]

Yeap. Many of the hotels there are also Korean owned.

[abhaya]

I hope they get what they want- a living wage.

[The Deerhunter]

I hope they get what they want- a living wage.

6k baht a month.

[Singharh]

I don't know what they are complaining about. In Thailand all the ladies work on a comms ion basis only. Split 50/50 with the owner. Many of them work for a few Spa's and travel when needed at another one. The more they work the more they earn...,that is the industry.

[sanukjim]

What,No happy ending ?

[ggt]

Dang, now instead of getting a "four hands" happy ending...one will have to be satisfied to use only one...

[edko]

I don't know what they are complaining about. In Thailand all the ladies work on a comms ion basis only. Split 50/50 with the owner. Many of them work for a few Spa's and travel when needed at another one. The more they work the more they earn...,that is the industry.

I know of none that split 50/50! In Chiang Mai, the basic pay for either Thai or oil massage is only 100 baht to the masseusse and the balance (i.e., generally the larger part) is retained by the owner. A friend of mine just moved to Bangkol to work in a large shop on Khao San Road and she told me that in that shop she makes 120. You might consider this the next time you get a massage and remember to tip the masseusse because she gets to keep 100% of her tips. I don't know how spa workers are compensated.

[mulder12345]

I almost always tip for a good massage. I know it's not expected but considering a 90 minute massage plus tip in Hawaii is $95-100, the $9 for 90 is quite the deal. These ladies deserve some appreciation for massaging my hairy, mole encrusted back?.

[BKKSnowBird]

Not tipping a massage girl atleast 20% of the total is just wrong.

I usually tip 100 baht on a 300 baht massage if it was good.

[Ulic]

Three questions, 1/ What are they paid now

2/ What can the massage staff expect in tips on a monthly basis.

3/ What is the minimum wage in Cambodia.