Press Releases
Cambodia Urged to Address Garment Workers’ Demands
The Global Union representing workers in the garment industry has demanded an end to the harassment of Cambodian garment workers and union leaders who participated in a four-day strike earlier this month in support of a living wage.
In a letter to Prime Minister Hun Sen, the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers’Federation welcomed the meeting on September 27 brokered by the government to discuss proposals from both sides, but condemned the government’s ‘carrot and stick’ approach which makes the authorities look more concerned with breaking the strike than with finding a just resolution to the legitimate demands of workers.
Says ITGLWF General Secretary Patrick Itschert: “On the one hand the government called a meeting of unions and the employers’ association, which prompted union leaders to suspend the strike. But at the same time it filed law suits against union leaders on charges of ‘incitement’, and appealed to the police to collaborate with the industry association GMAC in cracking down on the strike and in seizing materials which could be used in legal action against the strikers.
“In addition GMAC has urged its members to seek court rulings against the striking workers, as a result of which 145 workers in 16 factories have been suspended. In addition, dozens of workers have been suspended by their employers without a court order. Hundreds of union members have refused to return to work in protest.
”C.CADWU and NIFTUC gave ample notice of the strike but it was not until the third day, when it became clear that the action was widely supported, that the courts were asked to issue rulings against the strikers on the grounds that the strike was ‘affecting production and employment’. Clearly this is a blatant breach of the right to strike.
“There has been no evidence of violence or coercion on the part of union leaders. The unions, on the other hand, have documented numerous cases of police violence and intimidation, including the violent police beating of a woman union member and the physical assault and detention of the leader of a factory union”.
The ITGLWF has urged Prime Minister Hun Sen to intervene to ensure that the right to organise and bargain collectively, including the right to strike, is upheld; that workers suspended or dismissed in violation of the right of freedom of association are reinstated; and that all charges against trade union leaders are dropped. The Prime Minister has also been asked to encourage all parties to engage in good faith negotiations over a living wage.
The ITGLWF has asked the major brands sourcing in Cambodia to intervene to ensure these demands are met. The ILO has also been asked to intervene to ensure that fundamental rights are respected.
