Global brands push for revived talks in Cambodia

Seven major global apparel companies, including Gap Inc, Inditex, H&M and Levi Strauss & Co. have shown their disdain against the government's use of armed security forces against protesting garment workers in Cambodia in an open letter sent Tuesday. In the letter the apparel companies and the Garment

Manufacturers Association (GMA) in Cambodia urged all involved sides to resume negotiates and agree on a minimum wage increase. The letter, that was addressed to the prime minister Hun Sen, revealed the “deep felt concern over the tragic events that took place on January 3,” from the GMA and six trade unions, according to WWD.

Global brands

show their concern for garment workers in Cambodia

“We strongly oppose all forms of violence. It is with great concern that we have observed both the widespread civil unrest and the government’s use of deadly force. Our primary concerns are for the security and safety of the workers employed by our suppliers and the long-term stability of the Cambodian garment industry,” stated the letter.

It also stated that the formerly mentioned parties supported government efforts to “implement a robust minimum wage review mechanism based on international good practices, using objective criteria and data.”

The letter was signed by the head of sustainability of H&M, Helena Helmersson, vice president of Gap social and environmental responsibility department, Kindly Walsh-Lawlor, global director for Inditex, Felix Poza and vice president for Levi Strauss & Co.'s sustainability sector, Micheal Kobori. Three other executives from Adidas Group, Puma and Columbia Sportswear Co. sportswears and lifestyle brands also added their concerns and names to the letter.

Last Friday, after thousands of protesting garment workers in Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh refused to end their demonstration calling for a minimum wage increase, military officers opened fire on the protesters, killing four and injuring dozens more.

The U.N humans rights agency has called for an investigation into the garment protesters deaths that occurred Friday. However, in a previous statement police officials claimed that armed invention has been necessary as the protesters had become violent and thrown stones and bottles at garment factories and officers alike.

The nationwide protests that had begun on December 24, 2013 had been mainly peaceful, although the Cambodian apparel industry has suffered predicated losses of over 250 million dollars or 152 million pounds in sales and investments according to the GMA, while over 350,000 garment workers went on strike to fight for a higher minimum wage.

The government has offered garment workers a 25 percent increase for the minimum wage to 100 dollars a month, although trade union leaders and workers called for a minimum wage of at 160 dollars a month, double the current minimum wage. Since Friday's violent events, public demonstrations have ended and the majority of protesters have gone back to work.

During 2013 Cambodia's garment industry made more than 3 billion pounds in exports, mostly from large global apparel companies such as Gap Inc, Inditex and H&M, according to Reuters.

Photo: STR/AFP/Getty Images H&M store in the Bullring.