by Lauren Crothers
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia
The Cambodian government’s attempt to regulate the formation and function of unions in factories came under fresh criticism Monday with a human rights organization saying a draft law flouted international standards of workers’ rights.
The draft union law, as it is known, has been decried by trade unionists, workers, rights and labor groups, which say it will restrict freedoms to assemble and form unions -- in many ways the bedrock of worker rights in Cambodia’s $5.7 billion garment industry.
In an open letter to Prime Minister Hun Sen, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Monday that according to a copy of the draft law -- as it stood Oct. 2014 -- its passage would “violate international labour standards ratified by Cambodia.”
The latter warned that the regulation would “severely damage Cambodia’s reputation as a garment producing country where rights matter.”
This reputation, however, has already fallen afoul of many.
In Jan. 2014, five people were shot dead by military police as they held strikes and protests in Phnom Penh over the then $100 a month minimum wage. During the crackdown, unionists and workers were also rounded up and tried on what critics said were spurious charges aimed at tightening the grip on union activity.
In a statement that accompanied the letter to Hun Sen, HRW said the draft it has seen needs to be scrapped.
“The government should withdraw the draft law from consideration, publicly disclose the current draft, and consult with experts, trade union members, and others to revise it to comply with international labour rights standards before resubmitting it for consideration,” it said.
Of key concern are provisions that would set a minimum number on how many workers can come together before a union could be formed, as well as “eligibility criteria for union leadership that discriminate against women and non-nationals.”
HRW added that the draft “also gives sweeping powers to Labour Ministry officials to suspend union registration on flimsy grounds and without due process.”
Ministry spokesman Heng Suor could not be reached for comment. According to HRW, government officials had said they plan to pass the law some time this year.
Its passage would follow another highly criticized law on NGOs, which civil society groups said would also restrict their work. It is expected to be presented to the National Assembly this week, after being passed by the Council of Ministers last week.
