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Article

1 Jun 2022

Author:
Independent Trade Union Federation

Cambodia: Union leaders at footwear factory dismissed after union elections; union calls on Walmart to intervene & ensure workers' rights are respected across Walmart-supplying factories

"Statement on the Dismissal of Local Trade Union Leaders at Qi Ming Xin Factory Co., Ltd.", 1 June 2022

The Independent Trade Union Federation (INTUFE) calls upon the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, as well as Walmart, to intervene in Qi Ming Xin Factory Co., Ltd.'s refusal to reinstate five trade union leaders and founders according to an order form the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training...

On 6 February 2022, 27 workers at Qi Ming Xin Factory participated in an election to form and elect leaders of the Independent Trade Union of Qi Ming Xin Factory. However, on 15 February 2022, Qi Ming Xin Factory management announced that they were dismissing five workers from employment...

On 16 March 2022...[the] Head of the Department of Labour Disputes, issued Letter No. 188 K.B/AK/VK to the Director of Qi Ming Xin Factory, ordering him to reinstate the five workers...and back-pay their wages and other benefits calculated from the date of their dismissal until the date of their reinstatement. Despite the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training having issued this letter, Qi Ming Xin Factory still refuses to reinstate these five workers. According to this letter, the company had a period of two months to file a protest to the Minister in charge of Labour. However, the company has not filed any appeal for review to the Minister of Labour and Vocational Training.

On 20 April 2022, the Independent Trade Union Federation, through Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL) filed a complaint with Walmart in the United States of America related to this case of trade union leader dismissal. However, Walmart has not provided any response about the measures they are taking to ensure these five workers are reinstated...

...the Independent Trade Union Federation calls upon the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training to take immediate measures to push Qi Ming Xin Factory to reinstate the five workers...and back-pay their wages and other benefits calculated from their date of dismissal until their reinstatement. As well as this, the Independent Trade Union Federation calls upon Walmart to take strict measures to ensure that Qi Ming Xin Factory, and all other factories in Cambodia supplying to Walmart, respect the laws of the Kingdom of Cambodia and in particular, the rights and freedoms of workers as guaranteed by the law.