Four leaders of the Workers Friendship Union Federation (WFUF) were arrested on Monday 12 February 2018 for allegedly organising an illegal strike at the Cosmo Textile factory in Kandal province. The four workers, Chhean Vannak, Moeun Chhit, Lok Neang and Phan Sary, were sent to Kandal Provincial Prison for pre-trial detention.
The dispute began the week before when Chhean Vannak and Moeun Chhit were dismissed from the factory for apparently failing to stamp their attendance cards and went on strike inside the factory the following day. In fact, Vannak had lost his stamp card and had informed the factory, but had not yet been issued with a new one. Union members suspected he and his colleague were really being targeted for their union activities, as no action had been taken against other workers who had forgotten or lost their attendance cards.
Other workers joined in their strike, and the company brought allegations of violence and property damage during the protest. The four denied causing damage, while supporters said the company’s complaint was aimed at breaking the union by impeding the activities of the four and sacking them.
All four were eventually freed on bail on 9 July after nearly five months’ detention after a Kandal province court order.