212:
their demand for a minimum wage of US$ 160 per month was not met within a week. C.CAWDU was among one of six unions whose members were accused by GMAC of property damage and intimidating other workers into participating in the protests. The union publicly rejected the
Cambodian government's announcement to raise the monthly minimum wage to US$ 100 per month, with president Ath Thorn stating that the union would continue to protest to demand a US$ 160 per month minimum wage. However, C.CAWDU abandoned its plans for continued wide-scale strikes following the deaths of four protestors on 3 January 2014 who were shot and killed by Cambodian soldiers.
221:
complaint accused the three C.CAWDU leaders of having stolen US$ 92,929 from workers as part of a settlement related to an industrial dispute at E-Garment factory in 2007 and 2008. The complainants claimed that the terms of the settlement agreement provided that they were each to receive between US$ 3,000 and US$ 4,000 but ultimately only received between US$ 1,250 and US$ 2,700 each. The two organisers, Visal and
Chanthan, subsequently claimed in a public letter that they were ousted from their positions with C.CAWDU as a result of their investigating corruption within the organisation and amongst its leadership.
166:. Sokha refuted the allegations and described the expulsion as an "act of jealousy" by then-C.CAWDU president Ath Thorn, claiming that Thorn had faked the purportedly incriminating receipts, was jealous of her popularity as a woman leader and was worried about his ability to defeat her in the next union elections. Thorn denied having any jealousy towards Sokha, stating it was not him who had dismissed her, but a committee of the union. Sokha later stated that she believed Thorn had tried to destroy her career, to which he replied by describing her as "dishonest".
178:
In 2006, C.CAWDU reportedly had a membership of 36,000 workers, which had increased by only 2,000 workers to 38,000 workers by
October 2007 in a sector which at the time employed at least 330,000 workers. Attempts at recruitment were obstructed by threats and intimidation against organizers and local
245:
Membership growth and overall activity has been somewhat stagnant for C.CAWDU following both the corruption allegations of 2014-15 and the passage of the Law on Trade Unions in 2016 which significantly restricted the ability for trade unions in
Cambodia to recruit members and establish a presence in
157:
C.CAWDU's inaugural president was Chhorn Sokha, making the union one of only two women-led trade union federations in
Cambodia at the time. C.CAWDU was well supported by international organizations and rapidly expanded, representing members across 25 factories by 2002. C.CAWDU's initial recruitment
174:
In late 2006, Ath Thorn was re-elected as
President of C.CAWDU. He would go on to hold the position for thirteen years until 2019. The same year, the Cambodian Labor Confederation (CLC) was formed by C.CAWDU, the Cambodian Tourism and Service Workers' Federation (CTSWF), the Independent Democratic
236:
In March 2015, C.CAWDU was hit with further embezzlement allegations when dozens of former workers from Chang Sheng
Garment factory protested in front of the union's office. The workers claimed that money owed to them by the factory following a fire there in 2014 was given to the union, which had
211:
which had adopted a policy of raising the monthly minimum wage from US$ 80 to US$ 150 per month. In late
December 2013, C.CAWDU was amongst seven trade union federations who sent a letter to the Garment Manufacturers' Association of Cambodia (GMAC) threatening a strike of up to 250,000 workers if
224:
Several weeks later, the Phnom Penh Court of First
Instance summoned Thorn, Athit and Sopheakdey for questioning over the embezzlement claims. Whilst the three leaders denied having embezzled the money, Um Visal held a press conference calling on them to resign from their positions. Visal and
220:
In March 2014, two C.CAWDU organisers, Um Visal and Roeun
Chanthan, along with 29 garment workers, filed a complaint with the Phnom Penh Court of First Instance alleging corruption against then-C.CAWDU president, Ath Thorn, then-vice president Kong Athit and then-secretary Ek Sopheakdey. The
199:
turned violent, resulting in Eng Sokhum, a rice seller nearby the strike, being shot and killed when police opened fire on the striking workers. Nine other protestors and forty-seven police were wounded with another forty protestors, including seven Buddhist monks, arrested.
186:
C.CAWDU members participated in a three-day strike involving approximately 200,000 textile workers in September 2010 in response to an announcement that the minimum wage in the garment sector would rise from US$ 50 to US$ 61 per month, with unions instead demanding a
194:
By June 2011, C.CAWDU's membership had grown to 47,000 workers, with the union's growing size leading to clashes with established pro-government unions at the factory level by 2012. In November 2013, a strike involving C.CAWDU members at SL Garment Processing in
125:) is a Cambodian trade union federation representing workers in the textile and manufacturing sectors. C.CAWDU's current President is Kong Athit, who was re-elected for a second term in August 2023. The federation was formed in 2000 and is affiliated to the
237:
failed to then provide it to the workers. Sorn Prak, Secretary-General of the Workers' Union Federation, who led the protest, said that "C.CAWDU must be responsible for the payment because they received the money from the factory owner to pay the workers."
246:
new workplaces. Peaking at more than 73,000 members in 2015, C.CAWDU's membership has since fallen to around 50,000 with the union particularly failing to replace members lost during mass layoffs that occurred during the
232:
deciding to freeze grants and projects with C.CAWDU in light of the allegations. Nevertheless, Ath Thorn, Kong Athit and Ek Sopheakdey continued in their positions and remain C.CAWDU leaders to the present day.
161:
In February 2006, Chhorn Sokha, who by this time was serving as vice president of C.CAWDU, was expelled from the union over allegations that she had accepted a US$ 2,500 bribe from Minister of Social Affairs,
842:
179:
trade union leaders, as well as the proliferation of pro-government unions established in factories to create confusion. Expansion efforts were also hampered by the impacts of the
1028:
935:
225:
Chanthan later sought an injunction to force Thorn to step down as C.CAWDU president while under investigation for embezzlement, however this request was rejected by the court.
151:
996:
966:
154:(CLO), following a dispute between the CLO and the National Independent Federation Textile Union of Cambodia (NIFTUC) - a union itself formed by the CLO in 1999.
183:
on Cambodia's garment sector, with at least 90 garment factories closing, another 50 suspending operations and more than 30,000 jobs lost in 2009 alone.
334:
1059:
850:
790:
653:
873:
191:" of US$ 93 per month. The same year, C.CAWDU reported a total of 257 of its trade union leaders had been dismissed or suspended from work.
175:
Informal Economic Association (IDEA) and the Cambodian Independent Civil Servants' Association (CICA), with Ath Thorn elected as president.
679:
736:
1036:
904:
943:
759:
1146:
286:
134:
108:
445:
365:
710:
974:
572:
1089:
816:
1141:
311:
204:
158:
efforts were met with fierce resistance at some factories, with instances of union leaders beaten and arrested.
208:
180:
126:
93:
472:
342:
229:
228:
The impacts of these corruption scandals on C.CAWDU was significant, with international donors such as
1067:
600:
523:
287:"Garment workers say Gap aided in Cambodian strife / S.F. firm still faces criticism over sweatshops"
546:
130:
104:
881:
687:
744:
420:
912:
767:
390:
8:
498:
247:
250:, despite continuing to receive high levels of external, international funding.
626:
1135:
791:"αα ααΈα αα·α αααααα αα·ααααα ααα½α αα ααααΆαα αα α‘α α αα»ααααΆα α αΎα αααα ααααΎ ααΌααααα"
215:
317:. International Labour Office. November 2003. p. 96 (paragraph 387).
188:
163:
1110:
678:
Mom, Kunthear; Khouth, Sophak Chakrya; Teehan, Sean (14 November 2013).
169:
196:
843:"Union Representatives File Complaint Against Leaders Over Pilfering"
1097:
Danish Trade Union Council for International Development Cooperation
524:"2011 Annual Survey of violations of trade union rights - Cambodia"
20:
Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers' Democratic Union (CCAWDU)
758:
Mom, Kunthear; Meas, Sokchea; Teehan, Sean (30 December 2013).
735:
Kunthear, Mom; Meas, Sokchea; Teehan, Sean (27 December 2013).
654:"Woman Killed as Police Open Fire During Garment Worker Clash"
1029:"Former Garment Workers Hold Protest Outside of Union Office"
936:"CCAWDU Leaders Deny Corruption During Questioning at Court"
269:
Building Unions in Cambodia: History, Challenges, Strategies
150:
C.CAWDU was formed in 2000, its creation facilitated by the
601:"Woman Shot Dead by Cambodian Police in Protest Clampdown"
547:"Spotlight interview with Ath Thorn (CLC/CCAWDU-Cambodia)"
216:
Corruption allegations and protests by members (2014β2015)
627:"One killed in Cambodia garments worker protest violence"
312:"332nd Report of the Committee on Freedom of Association"
145:
119:
Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers' Democratic Union
499:"Cambodia garment workers strike for minimum wage hike"
421:"Spotlight interview with Ath Thorn (CLC - Cambodia)"
207:, being amongst the first to join rallies led by the
170:
Continued expansion and industrial action (2006β2013)
734:
446:"Garment Sector Competes and Thrives in Cambodia"
333:McDermid, Charles; Sam, Rith (24 February 2006).
1133:
240:
203:C.CAWDU members were active participants in the
967:"Request Rejected to Have Union Head Step Down"
677:
366:"Int'l Republican Institute Hires Chhorn Sokha"
872:Teehan, Sean; Mom, Kunthear (20 March 2014).
757:
711:"CNRP Holds Biggest Demonstration in Decades"
573:"In Garment Sector, a Labor Movement Divided"
391:"CAMBODIA'S UNIONS STUMBLE TOWARD DEMOCRACY"
332:
271:. Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. pp. 75β77.
266:
1060:"Unionist accused of withholding payments"
1090:"Labour Market Profile - Cambodia (2015)"
871:
817:"Cambodia garment worker strike unravels"
473:"Cambodia's Garment Industry on the Wane"
903:Buth, Reaksmey Kongkea (31 March 2014).
1115:International Trade Union Confederation
551:International Trade Union Confederation
544:
425:International Trade Union Confederation
418:
135:International Trade Union Confederation
109:International Trade Union Confederation
1134:
1057:
814:
497:BeaugΓ©, Florence (21 September 2010).
496:
267:Nuon, Veasna; Serrano, Melisa (2010).
146:Founding and early organizing attempts
1022:
1020:
964:
933:
595:
593:
902:
840:
788:
708:
651:
570:
471:Yib, Chhengleap (14 December 2009).
414:
412:
363:
335:"Labor pains as union leader sacked"
328:
326:
324:
284:
280:
278:
1026:
789:Kong, Sothanrith (2 January 2014).
470:
13:
1017:
590:
419:Grumiau, Samuel (1 October 2007).
285:Sine, Richard (12 December 2002).
14:
1158:
409:
321:
275:
1147:Trade unions established in 2000
571:Meyn, Colin (16 December 2012).
545:Grumiau, Samuel (14 June 2011).
364:Prak, Chan Thul (9 March 2006).
1103:
1082:
1051:
989:
958:
927:
896:
865:
834:
815:Teehan, Sean (8 January 2014).
808:
782:
751:
728:
709:Mech, Dara (23 December 2013).
702:
671:
652:Mech, Dara (13 November 2013).
645:
619:
564:
538:
516:
490:
464:
438:
383:
357:
304:
260:
209:Cambodia National Rescue Party
127:Cambodian Labour Confederation
94:Cambodian Labour Confederation
1:
1058:Teehan, Sean (9 March 2015).
997:"Together Against Corruption"
965:Khuon, Narim (19 July 2014).
934:Khuon, Narim (3 April 2014).
874:"Infighting at garment union"
253:
241:Recent history (2016βpresent)
841:Mech, Dara (17 March 2014).
205:2013β2014 Cambodian protests
152:Cambodian Labor Organization
7:
1027:Aun, Pheap (9 March 2015).
10:
1163:
1004:Transparency International
230:Transparency International
140:
100:
87:
77:
67:
57:
47:
39:
24:
1142:Trade unions in Cambodia
905:"Union bosses called in"
680:"Strikers, police clash"
181:global financial crisis
760:"CNRP calls a timeout"
737:"Strike numbers swell"
16:Cambodian trade union
747:on 29 December 2013.
43:Phnom Penh, Cambodia
690:on 16 December 2013
89:Parent organization
21:
1033:The Cambodia Daily
971:The Cambodia Daily
940:The Cambodia Daily
847:The Cambodia Daily
715:The Cambodia Daily
658:The Cambodia Daily
633:. 12 November 2013
607:. 12 November 2013
577:The Cambodia Daily
370:The Cambodia Daily
345:on 9 December 2014
19:
770:on 2 January 2014
397:. 16 January 2007
248:COVID-19 pandemic
115:
114:
1154:
1126:
1125:
1123:
1121:
1107:
1101:
1100:
1094:
1086:
1080:
1079:
1077:
1075:
1070:on 11 March 2015
1066:. Archived from
1055:
1049:
1048:
1046:
1044:
1035:. Archived from
1024:
1015:
1014:
1012:
1010:
1001:
993:
987:
986:
984:
982:
973:. Archived from
962:
956:
955:
953:
951:
942:. Archived from
931:
925:
924:
922:
920:
911:. Archived from
900:
894:
893:
891:
889:
884:on 28 April 2014
880:. Archived from
869:
863:
862:
860:
858:
849:. Archived from
838:
832:
831:
829:
827:
812:
806:
805:
803:
801:
786:
780:
779:
777:
775:
766:. Archived from
755:
749:
748:
743:. Archived from
732:
726:
725:
723:
721:
706:
700:
699:
697:
695:
686:. Archived from
675:
669:
668:
666:
664:
649:
643:
642:
640:
638:
623:
617:
616:
614:
612:
597:
588:
587:
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583:
568:
562:
561:
559:
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542:
536:
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533:
531:
520:
514:
513:
511:
509:
494:
488:
487:
485:
483:
468:
462:
461:
459:
457:
442:
436:
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433:
431:
416:
407:
406:
404:
402:
387:
381:
380:
378:
376:
361:
355:
354:
352:
350:
341:. Archived from
330:
319:
318:
316:
308:
302:
301:
299:
297:
282:
273:
272:
264:
35:
33:
22:
18:
1162:
1161:
1157:
1156:
1155:
1153:
1152:
1151:
1132:
1131:
1130:
1129:
1119:
1117:
1109:
1108:
1104:
1092:
1088:
1087:
1083:
1073:
1071:
1064:Phnom Penh Post
1056:
1052:
1042:
1040:
1039:on 13 July 2015
1025:
1018:
1008:
1006:
999:
995:
994:
990:
980:
978:
977:on 31 July 2014
963:
959:
949:
947:
946:on 5 April 2014
932:
928:
918:
916:
915:on 29 July 2021
909:Phnom Penh Post
901:
897:
887:
885:
878:Phnom Penh Post
870:
866:
856:
854:
839:
835:
825:
823:
813:
809:
799:
797:
787:
783:
773:
771:
764:Phnom Penh Post
756:
752:
741:Phnom Penh Post
733:
729:
719:
717:
707:
703:
693:
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684:Phnom Penh Post
676:
672:
662:
660:
650:
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636:
634:
625:
624:
620:
610:
608:
605:Radio Free Asia
599:
598:
591:
581:
579:
569:
565:
555:
553:
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529:
527:
522:
521:
517:
507:
505:
495:
491:
481:
479:
469:
465:
455:
453:
452:. 5 August 2007
444:
443:
439:
429:
427:
417:
410:
400:
398:
389:
388:
384:
374:
372:
362:
358:
348:
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339:Phnom Penh Post
331:
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148:
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107:
90:
80:
70:
60:
50:
31:
29:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1160:
1150:
1149:
1144:
1128:
1127:
1102:
1081:
1050:
1016:
988:
957:
926:
895:
864:
853:on 8 June 2019
833:
807:
781:
750:
727:
701:
670:
644:
618:
589:
563:
537:
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71:
68:
65:
64:
61:
59:Vice-President
58:
55:
54:
51:
48:
45:
44:
41:
37:
36:
26:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1159:
1148:
1145:
1143:
1140:
1139:
1137:
1116:
1112:
1106:
1098:
1091:
1085:
1069:
1065:
1061:
1054:
1038:
1034:
1030:
1023:
1021:
1005:
998:
992:
976:
972:
968:
961:
945:
941:
937:
930:
914:
910:
906:
899:
883:
879:
875:
868:
852:
848:
844:
837:
822:
818:
811:
796:
792:
785:
769:
765:
761:
754:
746:
742:
738:
731:
716:
712:
705:
689:
685:
681:
674:
659:
655:
648:
632:
628:
622:
606:
602:
596:
594:
578:
574:
567:
552:
548:
541:
526:. 8 June 2011
525:
519:
504:
500:
493:
478:
474:
467:
451:
447:
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413:
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198:
192:
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159:
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138:
136:
132:
129:, as well as
128:
124:
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110:
106:
103:
99:
95:
92:
86:
83:Ek Sopheakdey
82:
76:
72:
66:
62:
56:
52:
46:
42:
38:
27:
23:
1118:. Retrieved
1114:
1105:
1096:
1084:
1072:. Retrieved
1068:the original
1063:
1053:
1041:. Retrieved
1037:the original
1032:
1007:. Retrieved
1003:
991:
979:. Retrieved
975:the original
970:
960:
948:. Retrieved
944:the original
939:
929:
917:. Retrieved
913:the original
908:
898:
886:. Retrieved
882:the original
877:
867:
855:. Retrieved
851:the original
846:
836:
824:. Retrieved
820:
810:
798:. Retrieved
794:
784:
772:. Retrieved
768:the original
763:
753:
745:the original
740:
730:
718:. Retrieved
714:
704:
692:. Retrieved
688:the original
683:
673:
661:. Retrieved
657:
647:
635:. Retrieved
630:
621:
609:. Retrieved
604:
580:. Retrieved
576:
566:
554:. Retrieved
550:
540:
528:. Retrieved
518:
506:. Retrieved
503:The Guardian
502:
492:
480:. Retrieved
476:
466:
454:. Retrieved
449:
440:
428:. Retrieved
424:
399:. Retrieved
394:
385:
373:. Retrieved
369:
359:
347:. Retrieved
343:the original
338:
306:
294:. Retrieved
290:
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227:
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219:
202:
193:
185:
177:
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160:
156:
149:
122:
118:
116:
101:Affiliations
40:Headquarters
189:living wage
164:Ith Samheng
131:IndustriALL
105:IndustriALL
73:Heng Chenda
1136:Categories
821:Al Jazeera
450:World Bank
254:References
197:Phnom Penh
53:Kong Athit
1111:"C-CAWDU"
795:VOA Khmer
395:Wikileaks
79:Treasurer
69:Secretary
63:Ath Thorn
49:President
25:Formation
133:and the
1099:. 2015.
141:History
123:C.CAWDU
30: (
1120:6 July
1074:6 July
1043:6 July
1009:6 July
981:6 July
950:6 July
919:6 July
888:6 July
857:6 July
826:5 June
800:5 June
774:5 June
720:5 June
694:5 June
663:5 June
637:5 June
611:5 June
582:5 June
556:5 June
530:5 June
508:5 June
482:5 June
456:5 June
430:5 June
401:5 June
375:5 June
349:5 June
296:5 June
291:SFGate
111:(ITUC)
1093:(PDF)
1000:(PDF)
315:(PDF)
96:(CLC)
1122:2024
1076:2024
1045:2024
1011:2024
983:2014
952:2024
921:2024
890:2024
859:2024
828:2024
802:2024
776:2024
722:2024
696:2024
665:2024
639:2024
613:2024
584:2024
558:2024
532:2024
510:2024
484:2024
458:2024
432:2024
403:2024
377:2024
351:2024
298:2024
117:The
32:2000
28:2000
631:BBC
1138::
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