Urgent Press Release: Tuesday, 3rd July 2012

For Immediate Release

Trade union leader threatened with arrest has CCU leads workers’ rights campaign

Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions (CATU) under presidency of Mrs. Yang Sophorn has been leading the organization of a workers strike at the Tai Yang I, II and CamWell factories in Kandal province. The workers started the strike after the company refused to enter negotiations with CATU representatives on five key workers requests.

1.Request the company to provide benefits, in accordance with the labour law

2.Request the company to provide $15 dollars per month to the workers for transportation and accommodation costs

3.Request the company to provide $15 dollars per month bonus to the workers for good performance
4.Request the company to provide $15 dollars per month maternal/child care allowance to the workers with young children

5.Request the company does not demote or withhold the technical bonus of the workers who are absent for three days due to illness.

Mrs. Yang Sophorn, President of CATU said “CATU filed a complaint against the first court notice No. 22 ដកសរ regarding the depute at the Tai Yang I & II and Camwell factory after the company refused to negotiate with us to solve these problems which have been ongoing for a long time already.  We do not want to strike but the company refuses to engage with the worker representatives and so we are driven to this action in order to make the company recognize the rights of CATU members, especially the rights to collective barraging and freedom of association as stated in ILO conventions 83 and 98 and Cambodian Law.”

CCU president Mr. Rong Chhun has been threaten with arrest on at least two occasions during the strike which he has been attending his return ILO Conference in Switzerland. Today the situation at the strike is becoming very tense as there is a real fear among many of the workers that authorities will attempt to arrest Mr. Rong Chhun or in order to end the strike.

Mr. Rong Chhun, CCU’s President, said “We will continue this struggle for workers’ rights and there will be march in Phnom Penh on Friday 5^th if no solution is offered by the company. We are also trying to contact the some of the buyers which include major companies such as Northern, GAP, Levis and Old Navy. There buyers have good record in supporting workers rights in Cambodia through the Better Factories Program and we hope that will encourage the company owners to respect workers rights and negotiate with CATU representatives.”

For Further Information Contact:

Mrs. Yang Sophorn, CATU President at 012-880039

Mr. Rong Chhun, CCU President at 012-930706

The Cambodian Confederation of Unions (CCU) was established in 2006. CCU is comprised seven unions and associations representing over 90,000 workers in a range of sectors. Through national and international campaigning, CCU advocates for improvements in the working conditions of workers and lobbies the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) and employers to recognize workers’ rights.