Fury continues over TCF issue

Industry bodies across Australia today will join forces to protest over “violent” injustices towards garment workers.

A protest from 12:30pm outside the Cambodian Embassy in Canberra will see Australian workers show their support for Cambodian garment workers allegedly facing ongoing violent attacks by their Government while campaigning for a decent, living wage.

The demonstration, one of many actions taking place around the world, will also see two letters delivered to the Cambodian Ambassador. The letters call for the immediate release of all arrested workers, the provision of medical treatment for the injured and a return to the bargaining table to reach agreement on a decent, living wage for the textile and garment industry.

As previously reported on ragtrader.com.au, the move follows an initial protest which was held on January 23, 2014.

Both protests have been strongly supported by The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and The Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia (TCFUA), Union Aid Abroad (APHEDA) and UnionsACT.

Commenting on the issue, ACTU president Ged Kearney said the international community would not stand by silently as workers are killed fighting for basic conditions.

“The situation in Cambodia is deeply worrying and Australian Unions join with unions from around the world to condemn the actions of the Cambodian Government and call on them to urgently investigate these unnecessary deaths and increase the grossly inadequate minimum wage.

“Research shows that Cambodia’s garment industry has an annual turnover of US$5.1billion so it's clear they can afford to pay more than the monthly minimum wage of US $100.”

IndustriALL research shows that a minimum of US$260 is needed to cover basic expenses of a family of four so urgent action is needed for these workers.

UnionsACT secretary Kim Sattler added that said the Cambodian economy has enjoyed recent growth due to many corporations moving there from China following an increases in costs resulting from wage rises.

“Much of this growth is in the textile and clothing sector. At present there are over 500,000 workers in the Cambodian textile industry yet these workers are paid a pathetic $100USD per month,” Sattler said.

“These workers who get by on poverty wages have taken peaceful industrial action because they have been denied a monthly living wage. However, due to their peaceful action, the Cambodian Government has killed four workers and imprisoned another 23 people.

“UnionsACT comes here today to call upon the Cambodian Government to put an end to this violence, to release the 23 imprisoned workers and to honour their wishes by allowing Cambodian workers a modest increase to the minimum wage.”

TCFUA national secretary Michele O’Neil said that imports into Australia of garments made in Cambodia are on the rise and called again for Australian companies to join the fight.

“Many Australians would be wearing clothes made in these Cambodian factories with brands such as Kmart, Target, Pacific Brands and Big W all relying upon Cambodian manufacturing.

“With the horrific scenes of garment workers in Bangladesh only last year still fresh in our minds Australian companies should join the international brands demanding action from the Cambodian Government.

“No worker wherever they are in the world should be denied a living wage or face prison or death fighting to achieve one. The Cambodian Government must be held to account.”

APHEDA executive officer Kate Lee said that she has seen first hand the situation of female workers in Cambodia.

"It’s vitally important that unions have the freedom to organise to get decent, secure and healthy jobs with adequate wages. There should be no repression of workers fighting for a living wage,” Lee said.

Details for the protest:
12:30pm, Monday 10 February 2014
Outside the Cambodian Embassy in Canberra, 5 Canterbury Crescent, Deakin