International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
CSI
Online
Cambodia: ITUC Expresses Concerns
for Trade Union Rights in the Garment Sector
Brussels, 30 April 2012 (CSI Online): For years, trade
unions and the workers they represent in the garment sector
have been subject to numerous serious violations of their
rights. Excessive hours of work and poor working conditions
have led to several episodes of mass fainting. Collective
bargaining agreements are being breached, and employers are
refusing to negotiate with certain independent unions.
Workers are fired for anti-union motives and are not
reinstated, despite binding arbitration awards in their
favour. The industry has shifted to using short, fixed
duration contracts in an effort to create employment
instability and undermine the exercise of fundamental
rights. This year, workers have also been the victims of
violence, including a shooting outside of a garment factory
earlier this year; the perpetrator has been charged on a
minor offense yet still remains free.
As May Day
approaches, Cambodian unions are mobilising to demand
respect on the job. The International Trade Union
Confederation (ITUC) fully supports Cambodian trade unions
in their efforts to overcome these many challenges.
At the same time, the ITUC is appalled to learn that
GMAC (Garment Manufacturers’ Association in Cambodia), the
members of whom are responsible for many of the labour
violations in the garment industry, has lashed out at the
workers rather than engaging in good faith dialogue.
Sharan Burrow, the ITUC General Secretary, reacted,
stating “It is simply unacceptable that employers are
calling on the authorities to ‘crack down’ on legitimate
strikes and worse that they are publicly demonising
independent unions who have had the courage to stand up for
their members and demand respect on the job.” The ITUC
has launched an urgent call for mature industrial relations
in Cambodia, as genuine dialogue with the workers is the
only way forward. Decent work and social dialogue are the
pillars for sustainable development and social peace.
The ITUC represents 175 million workers in 153 countries
and territories and has 308 national affiliates.
Follow us on the web: http://www.ituc-csi.org and http://www.youtube.com/ITUCCSI
ENDS
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