Mr Hun Sen:

Stop the Brutal Suppression of Workers and Trade Unions in Cambodia

Petition by Asian TNCs Monitoring Network

Support Cambodian working people who have been struggling for their rights.

The Cambodian government has been violently suppressing the legitimate strike organised and participated by the majority of garment, textile and footwear workers demanding higher minimum wage. Numerous media reports confirmed that the use of excessive force of the police and armed forces brutally killed at least four workers and severely injured 23 workers and supporters between 2nd and 3rd January 2014. We have been informed that many arrests were made by authorities as well and 10 workers are under police and army custody up to date. It is very unfortunate that it was the government not the workers who initiated the violent clash between security forces and strikers.

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The Asia Floor Wage Alliance strongly condemns the Cambodian authority’s repression against workers

The Asia Floor Wage Alliance strongly condemns the use of extreme force, violence and arrest to quell garment workers strike in Cambodia on January 2nd and 3rd, 2014.  The garment workers’ strike is a legitimate expression of the desperation of garment workers who are crushed under poverty level wages.

The violent crackdown on striking workers by a military special command unit and the consequent violent arrest of union leaders, garment workers and supporters, causing 3 deaths is shocking and absolutely acceptable.  Desperate poverty has to be ended by the payment of living wages and cannot be ended through violence.

We, the international community, call upon the Cambodian authorities to release unconditionally those who are being arrested and detained for exercising their rights to participate in peaceful assembly. We call upon brands and retailers such as H&M, Adidas, GAP, and Walmart to act swiftly to support the implementation of USD 160 minimum wage in Cambodia.

The violent crackdown on the peaceful strike of garment workers and unions in Cambodia is a shameful example of how garment workers are brutalized by the forces of poverty, global garment brands' greed and state-sponsored repression. This is against the treasured international human right of Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining.  Cambodia as the signatory to the ILO’s Convention on Freedom of Association is bound by the ILO Convention. The attack on the peaceful strikers and the ongoing violence and imprisonment are absolutely unacceptable by the international community.

The Asia Floor Wage Alliance supports the demand for the implementation of USD 160 as minimum wage in Cambodia.  We support USD 160 as the wage that can provide minimal dignity to Cambodian workers, and not the poverty wage of USD 100.

We call upon key brands and retailers such as H&M, Adidas, GAP, and Walmart to act swiftly to support the implementation of USD 160 minimum wage in Cambodia. They must show their commitment to bear the share in their supply chains so that garment workers in Cambodia are able to receive a minimally dignified wage.

Anannya Bhattacharjee

International Coordinator

On Behalf of Asia Floor Wage Alliance