"Striking garment workers return to work on Monday", 16 January 2019

Some 420 garment workers from Long Victory International in Phnom Penh returned to work …, ending two days of protests triggered by rumours that the factory was set to close.

The protests in Russey Keo district’s Tuol Sangke commune started … when workers saw trucks removing machinery, clothes and tables from the factory…

Chan Sinoeun, a line manager at the factory since February 2017, said the sight of the trucks triggered the protests.

“…, we turned off the lights, we stopped working and demanded reasons as to why the trucks started transporting machines and clothes out of the factory."

“They need to give us faith that the factory is not closing, or that if it is closing they will provide us with compensation even though we are six-month contract workers,” she said.

Chan Thoeun, a 20-year-old worker at the factory, said rumours that it is closing down started a year ago, but workers had now received assurances from the management that it will remain open…

Tuol Sangke commune chief Norng Sabong said workers returned to work after negotiations with a factory representative.

“Workers were scared that the factory was closing and they wouldn’t receive compensation and seniority payments. But in reality, the factory is just relocating their other machines and clothes to another branch,” he said.

Long Victory International could not be reached for comment.