The Brussels-based International Textile, Garment, and Leather Workers’ Federation (ITGLWF) has appealed to Cambodia’s Minister for Labour to intervene in a dispute with a Taiwanese-owned factory in the country. The Federation has written to the minister, Ith Sam Heng requesting that he take action against Rao Yuan Garment factory to stop the “anti-union activity” and bring about the reinstatement of workers who have been dismissed.

The reason that the secretary of the ITGLWF, Neil Kearney, wrote to the minister is that the Federation fears that with the end of textile quotas drawing ever nearer that Cambodia can ill-afford foreign companies’ behaviour to tarnish Cambodia’s reputation in the global garment industry.

Although Rao Yuan was initially involved in a project aimed at improving labour standards, Mr Kearney claims the company has now adopted a hardline approach towards unions, attempting to bribe workers not to join the ITGLWF and changing workers from long-term to fixed term contracts.

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