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Fired for striking
In 2010, after a four-day strike for an increased minimum wage, hundreds of workers and union leaders in Cambodia were sacked when they wanted to resume work. Hundreds have by now been reinstated, but over a hundred workers are yet to be re-employed. In 2012 CCC was in ongoing contact with brands to get manufacturers to rehire workers who have been dismissed.
Shot for asking $10
In February 2012 over a thousand workers from three factories were protesting for better working conditions, including a salary increase of $10 per month over their $61 per month minimum wage. Then there was a shooting in front of the Kaoway Sports company, and three young female protestors were shot. One of them needed intensive care treatment in the capital Phnom Penh.
Attacked for standing up for their rights
After firing 33 workers in 2007 and illegally dismissing eight union leaders in 2010, the E-Garment factory located just outside Phnom Penh engaged in several violent and unprovoked attacks on employees who were peacefully protesting against the company’s refusal to reinstate their colleagues. After lengthy protests, an agreement was signed ensuring the rights of workers to return to their jobs and for proper compensation.
Historic settlement after months of struggle
In late 2012 nearly 200 garment workers at the Kingsland factory in Phnom Penh were deprived of their severance pay after the factory abruptly closed its doors. To prevent the factory's assets being stripped (equipment being taken away and sold) they started a months-long vigil and protest camp in front of the factory. This resulted in a historic settlement with Walmart and H&M in March 2013.
Military Police in Garment Factory
In May 2013, a new manager of the SL Garment factory in Phnom Penh, who was also a shareholder and military general, deployed armed military police in the factory. Unionists who protested against this intimidation were fired, and legal cases were filed against them. In response to the conditions and dismissals, workers went on strike for nearly four months, with eventual negotiations resulting in an agreement in December 2013.
Bangladesh formula crosses borders to Cambodia
In May 2013 the Wing Star Shoe factory, located in Kampong Speu province, west of the capital Phnom Penh collapsed. Two people died and 29 people were injured. The Clean Clothes Campaign contacted the main buyer, sportswear brand ASICS and worked together with the Worker Rights Consortium, Solidarity Center and the Community Legal Education Center to reach agreement on the compensation.
Wage struggle continues
Workers need to earn a wage they can live on. In September 2014, yet another action day was organised to underline the claim of Cambodian textile workers to a living wage.
Long-running dispute settled?
In November 2014 the management of the SL Garment factory finally signed an agreement with the trade union C.CAWDU, after a long-lasting labour rights dispute and non-implementation of last year’s agreement.
BLOG - Cambodian garment workers: never paid enough to escape the debt
The new minimum wage for garment workers in Cambodia is set at 204 USD per month, despite trade unions’ demand for a much bigger increase. The new minimum wage is a huge disappointment for the 700,000 workers in the Cambodian garment and footwear sector, who are increasingly struggling to make ends meet.
BLOG - Nike turns its back on Cambodian workers
Nike’s Annual General Meeting will be held on September 12. The brand will likely dazzle its shareholders with the results achieved since its June announcement of a 10 per cent annual revenue increase up to US$51.2bn.
Protest murder of Cambodian union leader
On January 22 Chea Vichea, the president of the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC), which organizes garment workers, was shot dead in Phnom Penh. The Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) condemns this killing and deplores this use of violence to attempt to silence the movement for workers' rights in Cambodia. We call upon our network members to demand immediate action from the Cambodian government to investigate this murder and bring Vichea's killers and those behind the killing to justice.
Cambodian Trade Union Leader Murdered
On February 24 2007, Hy Vuthy, president of the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC) at the Suntex garment factory, was shot dead while riding his motorbike home after finishing his night shift at the factory, located in Phnom Penh's Dangkao districut. The murder, less than two kilometers from the factory, was reportedly carried out by two men on a motorbike. According to preliminary investigations by local organizations, the 36-year-old union leader had received telephone death threats approximately three months ago.
Good News: Release of Born Samnang and Sok Samoeun
Good News for the New Year! After nearly five years in prison, two innocent men who were convicted of killing Chea Vichea, then president of the Free Trade Union of the Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC), have been provisionally released from prison pending a retrial.
Garment Workers In Cambodia On Strike
On Thursday 16 September Cambodian union leaders decided to a temporary cessation of a mass strike calling for a living wage of 93 US $. The strike started on Monday 13 September with 60.000 workers but won quickly in importance with 200,000 participating workers in over 90 factories at the moment of cessation. The government invited the unions for a negotiation meeting that will take place on September 27. This is occurring in an on-going climate of threat of retaliation for supporting the striking worker rights.
Over 200 Cambodian trade union leaders suspended or illegally dismissed after mass strike ends
The CCC is asking garment brands and retailers sourcing from Cambodia to ensure that 261 factory unionists who have been unfairly dismissed or suspended from work are immediately reinstated in their factories. The CCC is also deeply concerned about reports of ongoing violence against trade unionists and labour-rights activists, legal threats against organisers, and court-sponsored retaliation against union members.
Cambodia wages strike: Sacked workers still waiting for justice
787 Cambodian workers are still waiting for reinstatement almost two months after they were sacked for participating in a strike for better wages. CCC has contacted the major buyers from the factories involved, including Gap, Zara and H&M, to demand that these workers are allowed to return to work immediately.
Cambodian Trade Union Leader Arrested
This appeal is no longer active.
Update Cambodian Strike
On November 18th Sous Chantha, a trade union leader, was arrested and charged with drug trafficking. Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Unions (C.CAWDU) believes this arrest to be a frame-up in order to disturb his union activities. Sous Chanta risks 2 to 5 years in jail.
Over 300 Striking Garment Workers Still Victimised
Thanks to all of you who took action after our appeal in January: since then over a 160 workers who had been dismissed after striking for better wages have got their jobs back. Pressure on international brands that subcontract production to these factories, like Gap, H&M and Zara, has yielded substantial results, but more remains to be done.
Freedom Balloons
Relatives and friends of the unfairly imprisoned Cambodian union leader Sous Chantha gathered in front of the prison to protest his detention. They launched dozens of balloons, hoping that Sous Chantha himself would also get a glimpse of the action from within the prison walls. In December, the CCC issued an urgent appeal to demand his immediate release.
Wage increases in Cambodia!
After months of intense struggle, unions and employers reached an agreement to increase wages in Cambodia. The agreement follows months of unprecedented labour activism. In Cambodia, a rapidly growing garment industry has become the most important industrial sector and income-earner.
Sous Chantha – Imprisoned labour leader from Cambodia due in trial
On 24 June, after 8 months imprisonment, Sous Chantha is due to appear in court. We all hope he will be released. The CCC issued a letter to the Cambodian government calling for his immediate and unconditional release and for the reinstatement of Sous and the other workers who were dismissed after a national strike for higher wages in September 2010. The CCC is also in touch with the relevant brands to demand the reinstatement of the dismissed workers.
Sous Chantha released but contrived criminal charges upheld
After a three hour trial on 24 June, in Phnom Penh; Sous Chantha, Cambodian union leader and former employee of United Apparel Garment factory was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment for drug distribution. The sentence was reportedly set at seven months plus five days time-served and two months suspended sentence. After some discussion with legal officials, Sous was then released after the prosecution stated its decision not to appeal.
Swooning over fashion?
The Clean Clothes Campaign started a Europe-wide campaign called No More Excuses to demand companies pay sweatshop workers in Cambodia enough to lift them out of poverty. Campaigners in 11 European countries will work together to call on popular brands to pay a living wage to workers. You can help!
H&M under fire as Swedish television unearths Cambodian production scandal
A documentary revealing the miserable conditions faced by Cambodian factory workers producing goods for the fashion retailer H&M was aired on Swedish national television last night. Campaigners and the media are calling on H&M to respond to allegations of poverty pay in the industry.