"CENTRAL Audited As International Organizations Urge Govt To Cancel The Exercise", 15 July 2024

Three national audit officers appeared at The Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL) office … to conduct a planned audit amid calls by international associations to the government to cancel the exercise.

CENTRAL program manager Khun Tharo said during the audit, a three-hour discussion was conducted in accordance with the technical work requested by the Ministry of Interior and relevant laws, as stated in a letter by the National Audit Authority.

“Processes and procedures are implemented in accordance with the principles of audit. The CENTRAL team will cooperate professionally and ethically to ensure transparency and accountability,” Tharo added…

…, members of the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) and the Fair Labor Association (FLA) jointly urged Cambodia in the “strongest possible terms” to immediately cancel the audit.

“The timing of the audit so close after CENTRAL’s recent report makes it appear that the sole purpose of the audit is to retaliate against CENTRAL”…

“With the name ‘Cambodia’ increasingly printed on our member brands’ products, your actions immediately impact our member brands’ values, reputations, and legal obligations,” they said.

…, Cambodia Workers’ Rights Protection Union Confederation (CWPUC) accused Tharo of public defamation and incitement to discrimination, and demanded a compensation of 100 million riel (approximately $24,000).

In an interview …, Tharo was alleged to have said, “use fake unions to attack independent unions and use fake youth or civil society to attack youth and independent civil society”…

…, CWPUC president Hang Ravy filed a second lawsuit against Tharo and his companion for the same reason, this time demanding one billion riel (about $234,000) in compensation…