Phnom Penh: Pav Sina, President of the Collective Union of Movement of Workers CUMW, in a press conference on Union Discrimination and the Persecution of Employers today, said that the union movement is not an obstacle for investors to do business in Cambodia, that is, unions as a dialogue partner and solve workers' problems with employers effectively.

Pav Sina said that if the employer considers the union as their enemy, it is not necessary to do business in Cambodia, because the union is a dialogue partner to solve the problems of workers, protect their rights, freedoms and legitimate interests and not an enemy to the employer. "If the employer sees the union as an enemy, they do not have to do business because the union is their productive force. If they choose the union as an enemy, it means that they do not have to do business, I would like to inform you."

Taking this opportunity, he also informed the company's advisors, who often intimidate local union leaders, that they should encourage employers to negotiate, rather than suggesting that employers are the opposition in other ways. "No matter what the union does, remember that it is not possible to go beyond the law. If we go beyond it, that would be illegal, so if the employer intends not to negotiate, it means that the loser is the employer.”

He said that the employer is the depositor of tens of millions of dollars, so should not come and throw money away because one or two advisors make him lose. We have to think that the union is supporting investors who come to do business right and come with virtues, respect for human rights and workers' rights, not just for profit, that means the unscrupulous businessmen are gone.”

His remarks came after Pontus Footwear Ltd. in Takeo province, supplier for international brand Puma; T-Win Garment Cambodia Co., Ltd. in Takeo province, supplier for international brand Nike and Caswell Apparel Co., Ltd. in Phnom Penh, supplier for international brand Aritzia fired local union leaders after they formed a union within the company. However, the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of workers are enshrined in Cambodian law.

Pav Sina said that before the company fired them, the company threatened them even though they knew that the union founders needed special protection. However, the company does not care about the law.