"Company denies sacking workers over union ambitions", 10 June 2019

Qi Ming Xin Factory ... denied accusations that it sacked seven unionists for attempting to create a union within the company.

It said instead the unionists were fired because they encouraged other workers to protest. Moeun Yoeun, of Voice Khmer Youth Union Federation, ... said he and six of his colleagues were gradually sacked by the company throughout January after they planned to create a local union...

Aside from Mr Yoeun, the other fired unionists were Houn Srey Lis, Oun Thearong, Thol Thim, Pet Hoeun, Ses Sophal and Sean Sokli...

Mr Yoeun said he wanted to create a local union in order to protect the rights of workers, adding that positions were to be distributed among the other fired unionists.

“After they were elected to be union representatives, the company threatened them to stop,” he said. “The company also prohibited them from any union activity. We were then fired from the job.”

Pich Panharoath, an administrative representative for the company, ... said the unionists were fired because they did not comply with company policies...

“The company also complained to the court that we persuaded other workers to protest,” he said. “We were fired because we wanted to create a local union to protect the rights of workers.”

... An Sakhan, deputy chief of VKYUF, ... said the right to a local union is guaranteed by union and labour laws...