Top western brands seek meeting with Hun Sen over police firing on workers striking over low wages, killing three
Workers leaving a factory in Phnom Penh – western retailers havd demanded Hun Sun explain why police opened fire on striking workers. Photograph: Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP/Getty Images
Dozens of the world's biggest clothing brands, including Adidas, Nike,H&M, Primark, Marks & Spencer, Tesco and Wal-Mart, have demandedCambodia's prime minister explain the use of "deadly force" against striking factory workers.
The retailers want to meet Hun Sen to express their "grave concern at the killing and wounding of workers and bystanders by security forces" during a protest against poverty wages. At least three people died when military police opened fire with assault rifles on protesters on 2 and 3 January at a Phnom Penh industrial park making clothes for export to the west.
The 30 retailers of 30 retailers, which also include Asda, Debenhams, Gap, Zara, Next, New Look and Levi Strauss, demanded the government launch a "prompt and thorough investigation". They said officers found to have used "disproportionate and excessive force" must be held accountable, and warned that multinational companies might pull out of the country if there were any further incidents.
"The use of deadly force against protesting workers will not result in long-term industrial peace and jeopardises Cambodia's position as a stable sourcing location for international brands," the retailers said in an open letter to Hun Sen. "The global garment industry is changing rapidly, and industrial peace is required to rebuild our confidence in the Cambodia garment industry." The retailers "respectfully" requested Hun Sen meets with senior representatives in the first week of February. The government acknowledged receipt of the letter.
The shooting came after clothing factory workers defied government orders to end their strike against low wages. Human rights group LICADHO described the incident as "horrific" and said its own investigation and surveys of hospitals found four people were killed and 21 wounded. The military police said three people had died and 26 injured."We would like to pay condolences to those injured and dead from the clashes aimed at protecting national security," a spokesman said.
Clothing factory workers are calling for the industry's minimum wage be raised to $160 a month – $60 more than the government's latest offer. Unions and activists say a living wage for garment workers would be $283 a month.
The retailers said the government should immediately begin a dialogue with employers and unions to resolve the crisis. They said the government "should find prompt agreement on a new minimum wage and include a regular review mechanism to underpin more stable industrial relations".
Philip Jennings, general secretary of the UNI Global Union which represents 20 million global workers, said: "These protests were the legitimate action of Cambodian workers who should be protected and afforded their right to campaign for a decent wage. We are pleased that a group of retailers shares our concerns about the rights of workers and is calling on the government to investigate this use of deadly force."
The clothing industry is Cambodia's biggest foreign currency earner. Clothing made the country more than $5bn last year, a 22% increase on 2012.
The other signatories of the letter are American Eagle, Bonmarche, C&A. Esprit, Fifth Pacific, Lululemon, Migros, N Brown, New Balance, Orsay, Puma, PVH, Tchibo, The Jones Group, Walt Disney, Under Armour.
The general secretaries of the International Trade Union Confederation and IndustriALL unions also signed the letter.
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