We, the undersigned members of civil society, international labor support organizations and trade unions express our extreme discontent that Kingsland factory owners have failed to attend conciliation regarding outstanding payments of almost S$200,000 owed to Kingsland employees.

We further express our extreme dissatisfaction with the Ministry of Labor’s decision made on January 16, 2013, not to send the case to the Arbitration Council.

The conciliator confirmed that the Kingsland Garment Cambodia Ltd, factory is now closed.

Despite their failure to notify the Ministry of Labor of either suspension of factory production or factory closure, Kingsland factory owners are attempting to escape their liabilities clearly laid forth in the Cambodian Labor Law (1997).

We bring it to the attention of all that both the suspension of production and the closure of the factory are illegal.

Around 200 workers at Kingsland Garment Cambodia Ltd will continue their 24-hour vigil at the factory to ensure that the Walmart and H&M supplier provides full payment for months during the illegal suspension, unused benefits, indemnity, and damages for failure to provide prior notice of termination and closure.

We respond to the calls for solidarity from Kingsland workers who ask that “we must stand together.”

We echo their demands that sourcing companies Walmart and H&M ensure full payment for Kingsland employees and Labor Law compliance within their suppliers.

Further, we echo their appeal to all Walmart and H&M workers to stand up and hold international giants accountable.

Further, we demand immediate and transparent investigations from Walmart and H&M and strongly urge the Ministry of Labor to independently consider a further complaint regarding closure and conciliation.

For too long Cambodian garment workers have been exploited, brutalized and disregarded by duty-bearers. For the sake of industrial relations and justice this case must be resolved in accordance with the Labor Law.

We express our solidarity with the workers at Kingsland Cambodia Garment Ltd and promise that their voices will be heard around the globe.

This joint statement is endorsed by:
1. Warehouse Workers United (WWU) – Nick Rudikoff, +1 917 239 8375, United States.
2. Change to Win (CtW) – Nicholas Allen, nick.allen@changetowin.org, United States.
3. United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS) – Garrett Shishido Strain, garrett@usas.org, United States.
4. Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) – Ineke Zeldenrust, ineke@cleanclothes.org.
5. Labour Behind the Label (LBL) – Anna McMullen, +44 (0) 117 9441700, United Kingdom.
6. International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF) – Judy Gearhart, +1 202 347 4100, ext 106.
7. Maquila Solidarity Network (MSN) –Kevin Thomas, kthomas@maquilasolidarity.org.
8. Fair Trade Center (FTC) – Catrin Rosquist, catrin@fairtradecenter.se, Sweden.
9. Actions Consommateurs Travailleurs (achACT) - Jean-Marc Caudron, +32(0)10-45 75 28, Belgium.
10. Globalisation Monitor (AFWA Hong Kong) – May Wong, may.globalmon@gmail.com.
11. Asia Floor Wage Alliance SEA – Ms. Lee Siew Hwa, asiafloorwage.sea@gmail.com.
12. Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity (BCWS) – Kalpona Akter, bcws2000@gmail.com.
13. Bangladesh Garment & Industrial Workers Federation (BGIWF) – Babul Akhter, bgiwf@yahoo.com.
14. Korean Federation of Public Services and Transportation Workers' Unions (KPTU) – Lim Wolsan, limwolsan@gmail.com.
15. Community Legal Education Center (CLEC) – Tola Moeun, +855 66 777 056, Cambodia.
16. Cambodian League for the Promotion & Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO) – Naly Pilorge, director@licadho-cambodia.org.
17. Workers’ Information Center (WIC) – Sok Thareth, tharethsok@gmail.com, Cambodia.

PDF: Download full statement in English - Download full statement in Khmer
MP3: Listen to audio version in Khmer