"Wing Star Shoes Union Leader’s Arrest Draws More Flak, Call For Immediate Release", 1 March 2024

International and local unions condemned the arrest of Wing Star Shoes union president Chea Chan, demanding that he be released immediately…

Chan had been elected into that post a few weeks prior, when he was arrested and charged for “conspiracy to commit theft” …, over the crime that allegedly happened two years ago.

Atle Hoie, general secretary of IndustriALL Global Union urged Wing Star Shoes director Chiu Ching Ting to stop violating the fundamental rights of workers…, the company sent intimidating messages to Chan and union co-founders, asking them to drop the plan to form a local union. When the union activist refused and proceeded to register the union, Chan was arrested by the police…

… ASICS public relations department general manager Naomichi Hatori, however, said they were “deeply concerned” after learning about Chan’s situation.

ASISC will continue to monitor the situation closely and take appropriate action based on the outcome of the investigation.

“I want to emphasize ASICS’s firm and persistent commitment to upholding freedom of association principles and ensuring the protection of workers’ rights to freely associate and organize.

“Any allegations of misconduct within our supply chain are treated with the utmost seriousness, and we are fully dedicated to investigating and resolving them promptly,” Naomichi said via email.

In an email response to CamboJA, Maximilian Iciok, junior consultant CSR and human rights of German discount retailer Lidl International, said the firm has not had an active business relation with Wing Star Shoes since 2021…