"Render Justice on Wing Star Union’s Chief, CATU Urges Kampong Speu Court", 30 May 2024

About 40 trade union representatives and members of the Cambodian Confederation of Trade Unions (CATU) gathered at Chea Chan’s trial at the Kampong Speu Provincial Court, with banners …, demanding his release…

Chan, the union leader of Wing Star Shoes Co Ltd, was arrested … and charged with “conspiracy to commit theft”, an incident that allegedly happened two years ago. To date, he has been arrested and detained for 85 days.

Met Somphors, 40, told … that the allegations against Chan showed that his employer was using the justice system to intimidate the union and did not want an independent union established. He alleged that the company was violating union rights.

… Based on her observation of the court hearing, Yang Sophorn, president of CATU, said Chan was innocent because “no perpetrator was arrested” when the alleged theft happened in 2022 and the company did not take action immediately at the time…

…, ASICS Sustainability Department responded in a letter to the Business and Human Rights Resource Center that Chan’s arrest was a result of a complaint by Wing Star Shoes. The Japanese sportswear company said it “acknowledged the gravity of Chan’s situation” and was “committed to upholding labor rights and fair labor practices within the ASICS supply chain”.

“We have requested Wing Star Shoes to cease all forms of interference and retaliation against union activities and to respect the right of workers to organize,” the statement said. “However, we are monitoring the development of this case closely.”…