Human Rights Now has published a report alleging serious labour rights abuses in several Cambodian garment factories, including low average salaries, forced and unlawful overtime work, long work durations that sometimes amount to mandatory 24 hour shifts, unpaid overtime work, manipulation of workers by inducing a fear of contract non-renewal, infringement of freedom of association, and lack of protection for female workers such as maternity leave. These problems have been caused by the fact that Cambodian Labour Law has not yet sufficiently implemented in work settings; laws on short-term contract have been misused to dispose workers who speak up for inadequate treatment at workplaces; and lack of an effective mechanisms to redress the violations. At the same time, attention should be given to the corporate responsibilities of international brand companies, given that the factories investigated are the suppliers to these brands.

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited the companies mentioned in the report to respond:

• Adler Modemaerkte has not yet responded
• Calzedonia has not yet responded
• Celio response
• H&M response
• Inditex response
• M&S response
• Nygard has not yet responded
• Uniqlo (part of Fast Retailing) response