Court Questions Unionist on Incitement Charges

28 September 2012
The Cambodia Daily
Economy and commerce / Exports / Human rights / Labor / Law and judiciary / Social development / Trade / Unions
Cambodian Confederation of Unions / CCU / Garment factories / garment factory strikes / garment manufacturers / Human Rights / labor / labor disputes / Labor unions / Rong Chhun / Tai Yang Enterprise factories / workers rights

The Kandal Provincial Court yesterday questioned labor leader Rong Chhun over allegations he incited garment factory workers to stage an illegal strike, a court official said. A director at the Tai Yang garment factory in Ang Snuol district- which supplies apparel to U.S. brands Levi Strauss, Gap and Old Navy- filed an incitement and defamation lawsuit against Mr. Chhun last month for his role in long-running protests by workers that began in June. ... A statement from the CCU [Cambodian Confederation of Unions] said the case against Mr. Chhun constituted "judicial harassment." The statement called on labor and human rights groups to sign a letter "requesting that the Tai Yang management withdraw their complaint against Mr. Rong Chhun and enter negotiations within the normal labor relations framework."