"Factory shuts down abruptly, fires 3,000", 22 April 2020

Propitious (Cambodia) Garment Ltd, the largest factory in Takhmao town in Kandal province, announced an abrupt closure … but did not inform its 3,000 workers in advance.

The company said the closure was announced because there were no orders.

Workers are now concerned about their livelihoods.

Sa Mady, one of the fired workers, told … that the factory management told workers about the closure while they were working. They were only told that no buyers had placed orders for garments and the factory was not able to suspend them from work…

“The factory will prepare our final wages on April 30. I don’t know how the payment will be settled. Our workers find it difficult to accept this abrupt announcement and we were told to stop immediately,” she said.

Another worker Mak Phanun told … that many workers were very nervous. But they had not gathered to protest, pending receipt of their final wages. In case the workers are not compensated properly under the law, they will consider protesting, she said…

Kuoch Davy, the factory’s head of administration declined to answer questions, saying briefly that the company was working to solve the issue.

… Cambodian Labour Confederation president Ath Thorn said for now, not only had this factory announced its closure, but many others were shutting their doors due to a lack of buyers.

He said the government should seek a way to stop the challenges from becoming a serious crisis. If many more workers have no jobs, then starvation will lead to an outbreak of protests…