Global Brands, like H&M, ‘Watching New Union Law’

Major global buyers for Cambodia’s garments, textiles and footwear exports are carefully watching the implementation of the contentious new Trade Union Law to see if it complies with international standards, companies said yesterday. During parliamentary debate before the law was passed earlier this month, at least one person was injured when security guards and protesters clashed outside the National Assembly.

A spokeswoman for Swedish retailer H&M, Ulrika Isaksson, told Khmer Times yesterday that the company has been checking the law since it was drafted because of concerns by workers, trade unions and NGOs. The International Labor Organization (ILO) has warned the legislation may violate local law and breach international conventions signed by the government. “H&M has been following the drafting of the Cambodian Trade Union Law closely, which was recently passed by a vote in the National Assembly. We have been engaging concerned stakeholders throughout this process,” said Ms. Isaksson.

“We are at the moment analyzing the new law and can’t go into details except that we now need to look closely at how this will affect our ongoing work on strengthening industrial relations and ensuring that freedom of association and the right to organize is respected throughout our supply chain in Cambodia.” Silvia Raccagni, a spokesperson for a German apparel and footwear maker, said the law does not comply with international standards and the company had been closely watching since it was drafted.

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