Five unionists from the Federation Union of Free and Independent (FUFI) were reinstated at a garment factory on April 21 after foreign buyers intervened in their case. The members were dismissed several months ago. However, other FUFI members have yet to receive any resolution from the factory.

The dismissed individuals include factory-based FUFI chief Khon Vinith representative, his deputy, secretary-general, financial officer, and two worker activists. They were terminated between August and November last year from SSH CB Sustainable Fashion Co Ltd in Kampong Speu province.

The Chinese-owned factory produces outerwear for export to Europe, Canada, Japan, and the U.S. The decision to reinstate follows a series of negotiations between Spanish brand Inditex, the employer, the union, and relevant NGOs, according to the union and an NGO.

Soy Chanthou, president of FUFI, welcomed the return of his union members at the factory, on the back of an agreement between the buyer and factory owner. 

However, he continued to express concern that the sackings were “rooted in discrimination against union activity”.

“It was discrimination—they were fired because of their involvement with our union,” Chanthou said. “Some of our members were pressured to leave FUFI, while others were promoted after leaving.”

“Our union protects the interests of workers, and cooperates with the factory. We aim to resolve issues in accordance with the law, and that does not mean we encourage workers to break it,” he added.

Phoeun Pheakdey, one of the reinstated workers, said he was terminated from his job in August. The factory claimed that the dismissal was due to a lack of orders to maintain operations. However, Pheakdey refused to sign a resignation letter by putting down his thumbprint, and staged a protest.

“The reason they gave was unreasonable,” he said, noting that it was in relation to their work environment. “In reality, workers were doing overtime, and the factory still had adequate orders to [continue] operations.”

“In my opinion, the real reason for my termination was because I joined the independent union, FUFI. That’s when the persecution started,” Pheakdey added.

He shared that during his period of unemployment, he worked in another factory where he was paid on a weekly basis. “I’m happy that the relevant parties resolved the issue and allowed me to return to work as normal,” he said.

Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL) program manager Khun Tharo, confirmed that the reinstatement was a joint effort of the buyer and relevant parties, but declined to elaborate as it was “confidential”, while lauding the workers’ return to normal work.

“We hope that the employer and unionists will continue to work together with mutual understanding and uphold the implementation of union freedom and rights,” Tharo said.

SSH CB Sustainable Fashion, did not respond for comment. 

In a separate case, a FUFI representative was terminated due short-term contract 

FUFI unionist representative Veng Savoeun and other activists were terminated following the end of their contract with Suxingmax Garment (Cambodia).

Savoeun said he had been terminated twice. The first was in March 2024 but was reinstated after he protested and negotiated with the management.

The second time was on March 29, 2025, which the factory claimed it was due to his “frequent unauthorized absence from work”.

“I had requested permission for several days off in accordance with the procedure. While other workers do not have any problem, why me?” he said. 

Savoeun believed that the termination was linked to the union’s activity because the factory administration mentioned that “two unions are not allowed” in one factory. “This is discrimination,” he said.

He was elected to form a union representative in the factory in November 2024 but the factory owner did not officially recognize its entity.

Factory administrator Saing Socheat denied the notion that Savoeun’s termination was because of union activities, rather it was due to the fact that  his contract had expired.

“He was terminated because his contract ended. The factory isn’t going to renew,” he said. 

“Secondly, we have reminded him many times that he took days off without permission […] he failed an evaluation by the management and decided not to continue [his contract],” Socheat said. 

He added that the factory did not ban any worker from forming a union or discriminated unions.

“He was not terminated because he stood as a union representative,” Socheat said. 

He admitted the factory received information that he was elected but there was no official letter regarding the union’s registration from the Labor and Vocational Training Ministry.

The factory offers short-term contracts, about three months, with employees. Savoeun’s contract ended on March 29, 2025, Socheat said.

Ministry spokesperson Katta Orn could not be reached for comment.