SL to reinstate fired unionists

29 November 2013
The Phnom Penh Post
Garments and textiles / Government / Industries / Labor / Labor policy and administration / Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training / Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation / Unions
C.CAWDU / CLEC / Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union / Community Legal Education Centre / Dave Welsh / Ek Sopheakdey / Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia / GMAC / Hun Sen / Ken Loo / Meas Sotha / Moeun Tola / Phnom Penh City Hall / Sat Sakmoth / SL Garment Processing (Cambodia) Co. Ltd. / Wong Hon Ming

The chief executive of SL Garment Processing (Cambodia) yesterday said the factory has agreed to reinstate 19 dismissed union leaders and activists, a sticking point which could end a strike that has lasted more than three months.

Hours after the Ministry of Labour announced the garment factory had agreed to rehire the workers, SL chief executive Wong Hon Ming confirmed by phone that the employees in question would be allowed to return to work. ...

Labour Ministry secretary of state Sat Sakmoth told a Post reporter earlier in the day that SL had retracted its agreement to allow the 19 workers back, but his account could not be confirmed.

Ek Sopheakdey, secretary general of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers’ Democratic Union (C.CAWDU), which represents a large majority of SL’s workforce, last night said he was aware of the Labour Ministry’s announcement, but remained sceptical that SL would actually allow the 19 workers back. ...

Reached by phone yesterday, SL’s general manager, who declined to give his name, said the government order to reinstate the workers – an order approved by Prime Minister Hun Sen – played a role in SL’s reversal. SL officials hope the compromise ends the strike. ...

 Sean Teehan and Mom Kunthear
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/sl-reinstate-fired-unionists