The US unions are joining the fight for Kingsland!
Can you please go to all links bellow. We are building a campaign, many
many likes and shares in the US!
http://bit.ly/X94QGK
http://www.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.
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Best,
Sarom EM
http://bit.ly/X94QGK
http://www.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.
www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=
Best,
Sarom EM
Media Assistant
Community Legal Education Center (CLEC)
Tel: (+855) 66 777 042
E-mail: sarom@clec.org.kh
Website: www.clec.org.kh
Cambodian Garment Workers Expose Illegal Abuse at Walmart Supplier
Posted on January 14th, 2013
Photo Credits: Voice of Democracy, Heather Stilwell and Oudom Tat
Workers at a garment factory in Phnom Penh, Cambodia have spent the
past several days on a 24-hour vigil in front of Kingsland Garment in
the capital city’s garment district. They say managers of an underwear
supplier to retail giants Walmart and H&M shuttered the factory and
fled while still owing workers hundreds of thousands of dollars in
unpaid wages and benefits.
Sor Sokty, a 25-year-old Cambodian garment worker, talks about the
24-hour vigil she and her coworkers have been keeping in front of a
Walmart and H&M supplier after her employer shuttered the factory
owing workers thousands of dollars. Workers are left with no jobs after
years of service, debt and with few options.
Workers are maintaining a camp in front of the factory in hopes of
catching managers if they return to take machinery and equipment out of
the factory.
Workers are suffering now.
After the factory abruptly closed, many workers have been evicted
from their homes because they cannot pay their rent. Workers believe
that the factory closed with plans to reopen once it sheds long-time
employees who have seniority and benefits.
They say the new factory will be similar to other Walmart suppliers
internationally and domestically that rely on temporary workers who will
work on 3-month, short-term contracts. Such a scheme will prevent
workers from forming a union or having any job security.
Workers say they are owed a combined $800,000 in severance pay since
the factory closed Dec. 29. Cambodian law requires a certain amount of
severance for workers, but the company is offering less than half.
International organizations, Warehouse Workers United and others are
calling on Walmart and other retailers to force the garment factory
owners to make appropriate severance payments now before workers are
further harmed.
Voices from the Workers
Since September, the women at the factory, known as Kingsland, are making half their previous salary or about $40 a month.
Sor Sokty
25-years-old
Worked at the factory for 5 years
25-years-old
Worked at the factory for 5 years
“It’s been so difficult to feed my family. I can’t afford enough food
because it’s so expensive, and I’ve had to borrow so much money. I owe
money to my landlord and he keeps threatening to evict me.
“We want Walmart and the government to find a proper solution
according to the law. Workers are victims here. It’s so hard to live
without proper pay.”
When the factory was open that they were forced to work overtime making underwear for Walmart…
Pich Piseth
32-years-old
Worked at the factory for 13 years
32-years-old
Worked at the factory for 13 years
“I came here to join the protest because I can’t stand what the owner
of factory has done by shutting down the factory and only giving us $46
for each year we worked in severance pay.
“We just want to be compensated according to the law. Some of us have
been here 10 or 15 years. The factory isn’t thinking about the workers.
We want the owner and Walmart to take responsibility for this.
“About 180 workers join us every day and at night 30 or 40 workers
sleeping in front of the factory gate because we afraid are afraid they
will come to take the equipment out.”
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