"Factory fires four more workers", 21 January 2019

Prestige Garment Co in Kandal province has fired four more workers ... following protests over the ... sacking of a worker representative who was trying to form a union.

Pav Sina, Collective Union of Movement of Workers president, ... identified the four as Oeun Sambo, who was fired on January 8, Moth Thearan, fired on January 9, San Sarim, on January 10 and Khim SreyNeng on Friday.

He said they were fired after joining protests against the sacking of Houn Sovit, who was chosen by the workers to form an in-house union at the factory...

“They were fired from their jobs by the company which does not obey the law,” Mr Sina claimed. “The company does not want the workers to set up a union although this is provided for by the law.”...

“They were trying to form unions in accordance with the law but the companies discriminated against them and sacked them,” Mr Sina noted...

“In some cases, the company violates workers’ rights. The company will not allow workers to take emergency leave,” he said. “The company also finds fault with workers and that’s why we want to create a local union to protect workers’ rights and help demand our rights from the company.”...

In a petition to the provincial labour department the next day, the workers asked for Mr Sovit to be reinstated and demanded that the management should not cut the wages of employees who take emergency leave...