Kambodża: Ponad 300 pracowników zostało zwolnionych za działalność związkową

Dear mat,

Thank you for your email.

So far around 360 workers (of a total around 500) have been rehired at two of the three concerned suppliers that H&M work with. On the whole, they agreed on the contents of the agreement, but not on the levels of compensation. The supplier has offered to reemploy the 142 workers and the 19 trade union leaders already in December; however there are further demands from the trade union on compensation for the months of being locked out of the factory. Those demands have not been accepted by the supplier. The next meeting is scheduled for end of January 2011, where representatives for International Labour Organization (ILO) and Better Factories Cambodia (BFC) will attend.

H&M has urged both parties to take their case to Arbitration Council for a final settlement. This is also the recommendation from ILO/Better Factories Cambodia. We follow the development closely, and hope the supplier and trade union can find a satisfactory solution.

It is H&M’s standpoint that the concerned parties should reach an agreement that everyone is satisfied with, which means that as far as possible we, as a buyer, should support the parties to come to the negotiation table with good faith and willingness to find a solution. H&M’s Production Office Manager in Cambodia has been in almost daily contact with concerned supplier in order to ensure that the workers are rehired.

We have followed the recent developments in Cambodia closely and will continue to do so.
• We are in daily contact with concerned stakeholders such as ILO/Better Factories Cambodia (BFC) and other buyers with offices in Cambodia.
• We have initiated and participated in meetings between the concerned suppliers, GMAC (Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia) and the unions.
• In cooperation with several other buyers in Cambodia, we initiated and signed a letter of concern sent on 24 September 2010 to Cambodia’s’ Minister of Commerce, trade unions and employer organisations urging all parties to work together to find a mutually satisfactory solution.

Read more about how we interact with our suppliers in our latest Sustainability Report www.hm.com/sustainability2009

Kind regards,
H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB
Helena Helmersson

-----Original Message-----
From: ozzip@wp.pl [mailto:ozzip@wp.pl]
Sent: den 14 januari 2011 18:06
To: Bergqvist Lars-Ake (SECSR); Helmersson Helena (SECSR); Borjesson Pierre (CNPO); Fischer Tobias (CNHK); Singh Kanwarpreet (KHPO)
Subject:

Dear Ms. Helmersson,
Cc. Mr. Bergqvist, Mr. Borjesson, Mr. Fischer and Ms./Mr. Matharu; and GMAC.

I am writing in regard to the 318 Cambodian workers who are waiting for reinstatement almost two months after they were dismissed following the national strike for decent wages in September. A number of trade union leaders are still facing spurious legal charges resulting from their participation in this strike. This is despite the government of Cambodia issuing a statement opposing the dismissals and a warrant urging these cases to be dropped.

I understand that your company has contacted your suppliers to express your concern, but these steps have clearly not been enough to bring justice for these workers. Your company is a significant buyer from Cambodia in general and these factories in particular. Your code of conduct commits you to upholding the rights of all workers in your supply chain to freedom of association.

I therefore urge you to take stronger action to ensure that:

- these workers are reinstated immediately and unconditionally, with back pay calculated on their individual average monthly incomes.
- complaints and court cases against these workers are withdrawn,
- your suppliers respect the established trade union rights to freedom of association and immediately halt their union-undermining activities such as intimidations and efforts to bribe trade union leaders
- employers immediately enter into good faith negotiations on the workersâ₏™ proposals for a living wage and other benefits;

I look forward to hearing that this issue is resolved at the earliest opportunity and that your company has played a role in ensuring that freedom of association is respected and supported in Cambodia.
Sincerely,

mat, , poland

H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB, Publikt Bolag (Publ), Org.nr: 556042-7220, Registered Office Stockholm, Sweden

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