Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) - Cambodia (Ratification: 1999)

The Committee notes the comments submitted by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC), in communications of 29 August 2008. The Committee further notes the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee on Freedom of Association in Case No. 2318 (351st Report).

In its previous comment, the Committee had taken note of the discussion on Cambodia in the Conference Committee on the Application of Standards in 2007, and in particular that the Conference Committee had expressed its deep concern at the statements made concerning the assassination of the trade unionists Chea Vichea, Ros Sovannareth, and Hy Vuthy; death threats; and the emerging climate of impunity in the country. The Conference Committee, recalling that the rights of workers’ and employers’ organizations could only be exercised in a climate free from violence, pressure or threats of any kind against the leaders and members of these organizations, had called upon the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure respect for this fundamental principle and bring an end to impunity; it further urged the Government to take steps immediately to ensure full and independent investigations into the murders of the abovementioned Cambodian trade union leaders so as to bring not only the perpetrators, but also the instigators of these heinous crimes to justice.

Having also noted the ITUC’s comments on the irregularities that had attended the trials of Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun, the two men convicted of Chea Vichea’s murder despite substantial evidence of their innocence, and numerous acts of harassment and violence against trade union leaders, the Committee had urged the Government to take the necessary measures, including the initiation of judicial inquiries, to bring an end to the acts of violence and intimidation against trade union officials and members. Finally, the Committee had noted the Government’s acceptance of an ILO direct contacts mission, as requested by the Conference Committee, and had expressed the firm hope that the mission would achieve significant results in respect of all of the serious matters raised above.

Against this backdrop, the Committee notes with concern that according to the FTUWKC, a campaign of systematic violence and repression has been carried out against it in one factory, comprising vicious attacks on union leaders by gangs outside the factory; the violent dispersal of a FTUWKC rally, in which one worker was shot in the back by the police and 16 trade unionists were arrested and detained; the dismissal of 1,500 workers following the protest, virtually all of whom were FTUWKC leaders or members; and the subsequent blacklisting of the dismissed individuals by the management, which had distributed their names and photos to other factories. The FTUWKC also asserts that the authorities have done little to investigate the serious injuries inflicted on union leaders, and in fact have been regularly involved in the violent suppression of worker protests, strikes and marches at various factories.

The ITUC also indicates that in many factories trade unionists continue to face repression of all kinds, with virtually no intervention from the authorities. Anti-union acts include beatings from hired thugs, death threats, blacklisting, the bringing of trade unionists before the courts on false charges, wage deductions and exclusion from promotion. One FTUWKC leader was beaten by four or five masked individuals armed with iron rods on his way home from work. The ITUC also refers to the continued obstruction of the activities of the Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association (CITA), which the Government does not recognize as a trade union and whose demonstrations and protests have often been prohibited. Another organization, the Cambodian Independent Civil Service Association (CICSA), is also not recognized as a trade union.

Finally, the Committee takes note of the report of the direct contacts mission to Cambodia, held on 21 to 25 April 2008. The Committee notes with grave concern that the mission report contains, inter alia, the following conclusions: (1) that the Cambodian judiciary is plagued by serious problems of capacity and a lack of independence, (2) that the conviction of Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun for the murder of trade union leader Chea Vichea was upheld on 12 April 2007, in a trial marked by procedural irregularities, including the Court’s refusal to entertain evidence of their innocence; (3) that Thach Saveth was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the murder of trade union leader Ros Sovannareth; and (4) that no concrete steps had been indicated by the Government to ensure a meaningful and independent review of the outstanding cases. The Committee notes with concern, moreover, that it has received no information on any progress made in the investigation respecting Hy Vuthy.

In these circumstances, the Committee can only deplore the absence of any further developments in this regard in the Government’s report, six months after the direct contacts mission. It requests the Government to take the necessary measures to take concrete and tangible steps, as a matter of urgency: (1) to carry out independent inquiries, as a matter of urgency, into the murders of Chea Vichea, Ros Sovannareth and Hy Vuthy; (2) to facilitate an expedited review of the convictions of Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun for the murder of Chea Vichea, as well as the conviction of Thach Saveth for the murder of Ros Sovannareth, and to take steps for their release pending the outcome of the above independent inquiries; (3) to take the necessary steps to ensure the independence and effectiveness of the judicial system, including capacity-building measures and the institution of safeguards against corruption. In this regard, the Committee suggests that the Government have recourse to the technical cooperation facilities of the Office, notably in the area of reinforcing institutional capacity, as well as with respect to the establishment of labour courts and the revision of the Law on Trade Unions. Finally, it urges the Government, as also requested by the Committee on Freedom of Association, to take all necessary measures to ensure that the trade union rights of workers in Cambodia are fully respected and that trade unionists are able to exercise their activities in a climate free of intimidation and risk to their personal security and their lives.

The Committee is addressing a request on other points directly to the Government.