Cambodian Ministry of Labor said Friday that outlawed strikes have frightened employers and worsened investment climate in the country.

"The ministry calls for the (opposition) Cambodia National Rescue Party and six trade unions to immediately stop inciting workers to commit violence, road blockade, and destruction of factories' properties," said a Labor Ministry's statement, urging them to cooperate with the authorities in order to find out perpetrators.

The statement came after a deadly clash between anti-riot police and striking workers at the Canadia Industrial Park on the outskirts of the capital Phnom Penh.

The clash broke out on Friday morning when about 2,000 workers blocked the road, destroyed factories' properties, burnt tires and hurled stones at police.

Cambodia has closed all garment and shoe factories since Wednesday last week after six pro-opposition trade unions called for strikes to press the government to double the monthly minimum wage to 160 US dollars from the current 80 US dollars.

The government decided on Tuesday to raise the minimum wage to 100 US dollars; however, the trade unions rejected the offer and vowed to go on strikes.

The Southeast Asian nation has about 900 garment and shoe factories with about 600,000 workers, according to Labor Ministry. The garment industry is the kingdom's largest foreign exchange earner.