"Prestige Garment workers protest for second day", 26 December 2018

More than 200 workers from the Prestige Garment factory in Kandal province ... continued a protest over the sacking of a colleague who tried to form a union.

Pav Sina, president of the Collective Union of Movement of Workers, said that more workers came out to demand their colleague’s reinstatement and the right to form a union ... after about 100 began protesting ...

“We suggest the authorities find a solution for them soon because the issue has not been resolved yet,” he said. “The workers want to form a union which is allowed by the law and the authorities should not let the company violate the law and the workers’ rights.”...

The workers are also demanding the company extend their work contracts from two months to six months.

Mr Sovit ... said that he was fired ... after management found out about his intentions to form a union.

“In some cases, the company violates workers’ rights...,” 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 ...”

He said that the company sacked him after the workers voted to form the union last week and made him its president...

Company representatives could not be reached for comment ...

Lim Sarum, a provincial labour department official, ... said that the department received a complaint over the issue.

“We are aware of the issue,” he said. “Our officials are ... trying to meet all parties to find a solution.”