... Our Regional Compliance Manager based in Cambodia was aware of an issue in one of our factories, W&D Cambodia and has been in regular contact and met with the factory owner of W&D to understand the situation and seek assurances...

... by Tuesday 8^th Jan 2019, approximately 1,200 workers had still not returned to work and according to the Arbitration Council ruling were then considered as having abandoned their jobs by law. So, on Wednesday 9^th January 2019, the factory legally dismissed the 1000 workers who did not return to work.

This is not the situation the factory wishes to be in and they have been very cooperative and fully engaged in mediation with all parties... we formally requested that the factory management again extend the deadline to return to work... and continue to accept any worker willing to come back, without retribution or retaliation.

... we have also suggested that the management make another announcement and clearer communicate the implementation, decision and date of the seniority payments (back and future) to all workers more broadly and widely. 

The factory agreed to these action points and as of today, Friday 11^th January 2019, over 900 workers have returned to work. And we anticipate more workers returning to work over the coming days.

We will continue to monitor this situation and keep the factory under close review.

Marks & Spencer's full response is attached.