Cambodian police clash with thousands of garment workers, 23 hurt

At least 23 workers were hurt in Cambodia on Monday when police using stun batons moved in to end a protest over pay at a factory that makes clothing for U.S. sportswear company Nike , a worker and a trade union representative said. Police with riot gear were deployed to move about 3,000 mostly female workers who had blocked a road outside their factory owned by Sabrina (Cambodia) Garment Manufacturing in Kampong Speu province, west of the capital, Phnom Penh. A Nike spokeswoman in the United States told Reuters by e-mail that the company was “concerned” about the allegations and was investigating. Nike requires contract manufacturers to respect employees’ rights to freedom of association, the spokeswoman added. … According to the International Monetary Fund, garments accounted for 75 pct of Cambodia’s total exports of $5.22 billion in 2011. Low-cost labour has attracted manufacturers making clothes and shoes for Western brands but strikes over pay and working conditions have become common.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/27/cambodia-garments-workers-idUSL3N0E829T20130527