Caso individual (CAS) - Discusión: 2023, Publicación: 111ª reunión CIT (2023)

Convenio sobre la abolición del trabajo forzoso, 1957 (núm. 105) - Camboya (Ratificación : 1999)

Written information provided by the Government

The Government has provided the following written information as well as copies of the Law on Amendment to the Criminal Code of 2018, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Act on Prisons.

The Kingdom of Cambodia, as a reflection of its resolute commitment to abolish forced and compulsory labour within its jurisdiction, has duly ratified Convention No. 105. This ratification underscores the Kingdom’s steadfast determination to eradicate such practices throughout the nation. In the spirit of diligent adherence to this commitment, the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT) endeavours to elucidate the application of the Convention in Cambodia as outlined below.

Ensuring that no compulsory labour is imposed on persons who express political views or views opposed to the established system

We wish to underscore the fact that all Cambodian citizens are vested with unassailable freedoms, including the right to express their opinions peacefully and to partake in political activities. Such freedoms are safeguarded by the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia, as well as the accompanying laws and regulations. It is therefore important to reaffirm that, in the jurisdiction of Cambodia, there exist no punitive measures for individuals who peacefully express their political views, including opposition members, human rights defenders and journalists, provided that such acts do not infringe the rights of others in accordance with the boundaries set by existing laws and regulations.

Human rights, as enshrined under the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the other instruments relating to human rights, women’s rights and children’s rights, are unequivocally recognized and upheld by the Constitution. As articulated in article 36 of the Constitution, Khmer citizens of all genders are conferred the right to seek any employment, contingent upon their capabilities and societal requirements.

In adherence with international labour standards, Cambodia’s Labour Law (section 15) unequivocally proscribes forced or compulsory labour, in line with the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29). This provision extends to all individuals, including domestic or household and agricultural workers.

In accordance with the Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners, as declared by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 45/111 on 14 December 1990, conditions have been implemented to enable prisoners to engage in remunerated employment. This serves to foster their reintegration into the labour market, contribute to their own financial support and that of their families, and these principles have been enshrined in the national legislation, specifically in the Act on Prisons.

Prison labour is primarily a rehabilitative process aimed at facilitating the reintegration of prisoners into society. As per the Act on Prisons of 2011 (sections 68 and 69), low-risk convicted individuals possessing the requisite physical capabilities may be called upon to engage in work as part of the daily prison routine, or to perform tasks benefiting the community or participate in prison industry, prison handicraft and the prison farming industry. Such employment is not assigned based on political opposition, human rights advocacy or journalistic activity, and safety measures are diligently implemented.

The Government continually affirms its commitment to the principles enshrined in the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia, as well as in the UN Charter, Universal Declaration of Human Rights and various human rights instruments. All Cambodians, irrespective of race, colour, gender, language, religion, political views, origin, nationality, socio-economic class, or possession, are equal before the law.

The MLVT has never encountered instances of convicted individuals being forced into prison labour on account of political opposition, human rights advocacy or journalistic activity. The MLVT stands ready to cooperate with the relevant authorities to take swift action should it be informed of such an occurrence. Furthermore, no tangible evidence has been uncovered that suggests prison labour is being utilized as a form of punishment for individuals voicing political views or dissenting from the established system. The MLVT therefore, invites the ILO and the relevant stakeholders to provide detailed information should any evidence arise.

Information regarding the draft Cybercrime Law and the Law on Amendment to the Criminal Code

With respect to the formulation of the draft Cybercrime Law, the Ministry of the Interior is steadfastly committed to upholding the Constitution and laws of the Kingdom of Cambodia. This endeavour is grounded on strong recognition of human rights as enshrined in the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other instruments relating to human rights, women’s rights and children’s rights. In this regard, a dedicated working group has convened a review meeting, engaging with a technical team from the Ministry of the lnterior, and hosted an inter-ministerial technical retreat that featured representatives from the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, Ministry of Information, Ministry of lndustry, Science, Technology and Innovation, and the Ministry of Commerce. This collaborative process has facilitated the advancement of this initiative. In the meantime, the draft Cybercrime Law is under deliberation with all relevant stakeholders, with a concerted effort being made to integrate and harmonize input from all parties to ensure the law’s effectiveness, efficiency, pertinence and coherence.

Prohibiting compulsory labour as a sanction for peaceful strikes

With reference to the matters involving Mr Van Narong and Mr Pel Voeun, the cases are still subject to the appeals process. It is significant to note that both Mr Van Narong and Mr Pel Voeun are actively employed, thus invalidating any alleged imprisonment.

As to the arrest of union leaders at the casino, the MLVT is compelled to clarify that the strike carried out by the union leaders in question breached the legal prerequisites for the exercise of the right to strike. Indeed, while it is an entitlement for workers to organize a strike, certain legal conditions must be met before such an action can take place. These conditions entail the Arbitration Council’s (AC) failure to deliver or notify its decision within the legal time frame, and the occurrence of an objection to a non-binding arbitral award. It is crucial to note that these conditions were not met in this instance.

Consequently, on 16 December 2021, the Phnom Penh Court of First Instance issued a provisional ruling indicating that the collective labour dispute at Naga World needed to go through the AC procedure and mechanism. The court further ruled that any new demands which had not yet been subjected to the AC process could not be a valid cause for a strike, as specified in the Labour Law. However, despite this ruling, the terminated workers initiated their strike outside Naga World.

Naga World’s former employees were held accountable for their actions and subsequently detained, following charges under section 494 (incitement) and section 495 (incitement to commit felony) of the Criminal Code. This legal action stemmed from the fact that their participation in the strike, deemed illegal, had created substantial disturbances to public order and safety.

Additional arrests were made when these individuals were found to be infringing the right to life of others amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This violation was predicated on their refusal to comply with the government-mandated COVID-19 preventative measures, notably the omission of rapid testing and disregard for social distancing protocols during the course of the strike. In total, the transgressions led to the arrest of 11 strikers.

In response, these individuals wrote a letter to the MLVT requesting its intervention through legal means to secure their release on bail. They further promised to strictly adhere to health guidelines, desist from obstructing COVID-19 sample testing, and abstain from any gatherings or protests that could potentially compromise public order, peace and security as part of their endeavours to amicably resolve the labour dispute.

In concordance with their plea, and following the provision of legal assistance by the MLVT and the Ministry of Justice, the Phnom Penh court of first instance delivered a ruling on 14 March 2022. The court ordered the release on bail of the former workers, thereby addressing their pleas.

The case of the arrested leaders of the Workers Friendship Union Federation is currently ambiguous, due to insufficient information about their employer. Thus, the MLVT invites the ILO and the relevant stakeholders to share detailed information, facilitating appropriate action.

Discussion by the Committee

Chairperson – We will start our discussion on the second case in our agenda, that is Cambodia on the application of Convention No. 105.

Government representative – This Committee is the cornerstone of the ILO’s supervisory system and plays an integral role in ensuring the application of international labour Conventions. Sharing the same dedication, the Royal Kingdom of Cambodia has honoured its commitment to uphold all rights and obligations set forth in this Convention ratified by Cambodia.

As a testament to our dedication, Cambodia proudly holds an outstanding record of having ratified eight fundamental international labour Conventions. We try to maintain cooperative and constructive relations with all social and development partners to ensure the protection of labour rights and foster harmonious industrial relations for bolstering economic development in Cambodia.

Recognizing the Committee’s significant contribution, Cambodia has actively engaged with the ILO supervisory mechanism in line with our commitments and in addition to the relevant written information provided in May 2023. My delegation took note of the report of the Committee of Experts and is pleased to offer further updates on the application of the Convention in Cambodia.

In this connection, it is worth noting that the Constitution upholds and incorporates the fundamental principles of human rights enshrined in the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international human rights instruments. Both human rights and labour rights are well protected by law and practice in Cambodia.

We are proud to declare that forced labour has no room in Cambodia, so there is no suggestion of forced labour in the Kingdom, but what only exists is those who really need a job and work hard to get better paid to support their livelihoods and families. Consistent with international labour standards, section 15 of the Labour Law prohibits forced or compulsory labour in accordance with the Convention, which was ratified by the Kingdom of Cambodia in 1969. We are pleased to highlight that under the Convention, the term forced or compulsory labour refers to all kinds of work or service which are exacted from any person under the menace of any penalty and for which the said person has not offered himself voluntarily.

The Convention also excludes any work or service exacted from an individual as a consequence of a legal conviction provided that it is carried out under the public authority’s supervision and not hired out to private entities. As stipulated in the UN Basic Principles for Treatment of Prisoners, conditions should be made to enable prisoners to undertake meaningful remunerated employment to facilitate their integration into the labour market.

Cambodia reaffirms its commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights by incorporating this approach into national legislation, particularly its Act on Prisons. Furthermore, the Act on Prisons is in line with a wide range of international instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention against Torture, among others. This law aims to educate, reform and rehabilitate prisoners for their integration into society. We took note of the Committee of Experts’ concern regarding the various provisions of the Cambodian Criminal Code. To provide further context it is pertinent to note that section 5 of the Criminal Code clearly mandates a strict interpretation of criminal law. This is not contrary to the concerns raised by the Committee of Experts to ensure that the provisions of the Criminal Code do not present any coercion.

We took note of the Committee of Experts’ concern regarding the alleged imprisonment of two unionists. In this case, we wish to clarify that their cases are currently under appeal. Contrary to the allegation of imprisonment, they remain actively employed and fully enjoy the right to a fair trial. Furthermore, the arrest of the protesters, as indicated in the report of the Committee of Experts, was not merely due to their participation in illegal strikes, but legal action was primarily undertaken in response to their substantial disturbance of public order and safety, in violation of COVID-19 preventive laws to ensure the right to life of others during the pandemic.

We express concern about our double footnoted case. There is no evidence that has been uncovered suggesting that prison labour is being utilized as a form of punishment for those opposed to the established system or who engage in a strike. If such information is sufficiently presented, Cambodia would act swiftly. Therefore, we invite the ILO and relevant stakeholders to provide detailed information should any surface. Our intention to commit to the rule of law, strengthening the implementation of laws and regulations, is of paramount importance to ensure our good governance remains intact. As such, law enforcement should not be misconstrued as a political pressure.

In conclusion, my delegation thanks the Committee for this opportunity and reaffirms the Cambodian commitment to promote protection and respect for the principles enshrined in all relevant instruments to which Cambodia is a state party.

Worker members – The climate that is currently prevailing, and has done for many years in Cambodia, is hardly conducive to the exercise of public freedoms, including freedom of association and the freedom to engage in collective action.

Indeed, the report of the Committee of Experts refers to arrests and prosecutions of members of the opposition party, representatives of non-governmental organizations, trade unionists and human rights defenders. Several members of the only opposition party in Cambodia, the Cambodia National Rescue Party, have been imprisoned with the obligation to perform prison labour. The report also refers to the arrest of 25 human rights defenders and the convictions of 9 opposition politicians. Nearly 50 cases of the harassment of journalists were also reported in 2021. The convictions of Van Narong and Pel Voeun, members of the Cambodian Labour Confederation (CLC), sentenced to imprisonment for misdemeanour and malicious defamation, are also referred to in the report of the Committee of Experts. More recently, we are also bound to deplore the conviction to sentences of imprisonment of the leaders of the Labor Rights Supported Union (LRSU) under provisions of the Criminal Code to which we will return shortly.

All of these events show that public and trade union freedoms are flouted in Cambodia. And yet the free exercise of these public and trade union freedoms is a prerequisite for the exercise of the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the international labour instruments that are applicable in Cambodia. International institutions and experts are raising similar concerns. The UN Human Rights Committee expressed concern at the persistent violations of freedom of expression, the arrest and detention of demonstrators, the dissolution of the Cambodia National Rescue Party in 2017 and of three other opposition parties in 2021, the threats, harassment, arbitrary arrests and collective trials suffered by members of the opposition and the continuing absence of an independent and impartial judiciary. On several occasions, United Nations experts and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia have also denounced these practices.

All of this should not leave the Government of Cambodia unmoved. It is high time to remedy this situation and restore an environment that is conducive to the exercise of public freedoms, which are a prerequisite for compliance with international labour standards, including this Convention.

Today, we are called upon to examine the conformity with the Convention of the law and practice in Cambodia. It will very rapidly be clear from our examination that many legal provisions and their application in Cambodia are contrary to the requirements of the Convention.

Under the terms of Article 1(a) of the Convention, each Member “undertakes to suppress and not make use of any form of forced or compulsory labour … as a means of political coercion or education or as a punishment for holding or expressing political views or views ideologically opposed to the established political, social or economic system”. The Act on Political Parties provides that that prison sentences include the requirement to work. Read in conjunction with other provisions of Cambodian legislation, this provision has the consequence that certain of the activities covered by Article 1(a) of the Convention may be punished by prison sentences involving the obligation to work. Section 68 of the Act on Prisons provides that sentences of imprisonment involve the obligation to work. Read in conjunction with other provisions of Cambodian legislation, this provision has the consequence that certain of the activities covered by Article 1(a) of the Convention may be punished by prison sentences involving the obligation to work.

The following provisions are referred to in particular in the report of the Committee of Experts:

- section 42 of the Act on Political Parties, as amended in 2017, under which various offences related to the administration or management of a political party which has been dissolved, or whose activities have been suspended by a court, or whose registration has been refused, are punishable by imprisonment of up to one year;

- sections 494 and 495 on incitement to disturb public security by speech, writing, images or any other audio-visual communication in public or to the public;

- section 522 on publication of commentaries intended to unlawfully coerce judicial authorities;

- section 523 of the Criminal Code of 2009 on discrediting judicial decisions;

- sections 305 to 309 on public defamation and insult; and

- sections 445 and 437 bis of the Criminal Code relating to insult and criticism of the King.

As we have seen, these provisions have been used for the imprisonment and conviction of political dissidents, journalists, bloggers and trade unionists, who may be required to perform work. It is clear that the route that should be adopted is the removal of any criminal sanctions for the expression of democratic political opinions. The prohibition set out in the Convention is nevertheless very clear, as such penalties may not involve the requirement to work.

The case of Cambodia also offers an opportunity to address the prohibition contained in Article 1(d) of the Convention, which provides that each Member “undertakes to suppress and not to make use of any form of forced or compulsory labour … as a punishment for having participated in strikes”. It nevertheless appears from the report of the Committee of Experts that trade unions have been struck with criminal convictions following their participation in peaceful forms of collective action.

We should not have to reiterate the extent to which the exercise of the right to collective action is fundamental for the defence of fundamental labour rights. For this reason, the Convention provides that participation in a strike cannot give rise to punishment involving a sentence of forced labour. And yet the law and practice in Cambodia do not appear to be in conformity with the requirement set out in Article 1(d) of the Convention.

The abolition of forced labour is a fundamental objective of the ILO. There can be no social justice when forced labour is rife. The in-depth revision of the law and practice in Cambodia referred to above in relation to criminal penalties is indispensable to the re-establishment of an environment conducive to the exercise of public freedoms in the country, including freedom of association and the freedom of collective action.

Employer members – The Employer members stress the importance of States’ compliance with the Convention, which is one of the ten ILO fundamental Conventions.

By way of background, Cambodia ratified the Convention in 1999. We note that, so far, the Committee of Experts has provided four observations on this case, namely in 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2022. Today is the second time that the Committee looks at the application of the Convention in Cambodia. We take note that the Committee of Experts identified this case this year as a double-footnoted case. However, we also note that the issues raised were not addressed by the direct contacts mission which was in Cambodia last year. The apparent lack of serious concerns prior to this and their being raised this year in close proximity to the national elections in which several of the senior union figures quoted in this case are likely to play a prominent part, does actually raise a question in our minds as to why it was double-footnoted. It just does not have the history that other cases that have been double-footnoted have. In any event the Committee of Experts identified two main issues here.

One, sanctions involving the obligation to work as a punishment for the expression of political views contrary to Article 1(a) of the Convention, and second, the compulsory labour imposed on workers as punishment for participating in strikes, contrary to Article 1(d) of the Convention.

Allow me to briefly recall that the Workers have expressed concern over the imposition of sanctions involving forced labour to censor the expression of opposing views on political, social or economic matters, as well as courts’ arbitrariness in imposing such sanctions. These concerns arose after the dissolution of a major opposition party in 2017 and the subsequent imprisonment of its leaders.

The Government, for its part, has pointed out that interpreting section 68 of the Act on Prisons as contrary to the Convention is inappropriate. It stressed that imposition of compulsory labour on low-risk prisoners is aimed at providing education and rehabilitation in accordance with international standards relating to prisoners. We note that requiring prisoners to participate in activities that are rehabilitative in nature and do not involve abuse or harm is, in fact, common around the world.

In its observations, as well in the 2012 General Survey, the Committee of Experts notes that, while convict labour exacted from common offenders is intended to reform or rehabilitate them, the same need does not arise in the case of persons convicted for having expressed their opinions or for having organized or participated in a strike. This surprises the Employer members, as there is an inconsistency in the Committee of Experts suggesting that there are different regimes – completely different regimes – depending on whether or not the circumstances relate to freedom of expression or criminal offences. I will come back to this point.

The Employer members emphasize the importance of freedom of expression, including expressing political views and engaging in politics, as fundamental values of democratic societies. We take note of the UN Human Rights Committee’s and human rights experts’ concern regarding allegations of persistent violation of freedom of expression, the dissolution of opposition parties and the imprisonment – involving compulsory labour – of members of the opposition, human rights defenders and journalists.

We also take note of the Committee of Experts’ observation on the continued use of national criminal provisions to arrest, prosecute and convict human rights defenders, opposition members and journalists for expressing their political views or views ideologically opposed to the established system, leading to the imposition of penalties of imprisonment, including involving labour.

In this regard, the Employer members align with the Committee of Experts in asking the Government to take immediate and effective measures to ensure that persons who express political views or views opposed to the established system in a manner not designed to incite unrest, insurrection or violence are not subjected to punitive sanctions involving compulsory labour. The Employer members similarly align with the Committee of Experts’ recommendation urging the Government to review the scope of the relevant criminal provisions so as to ensure that their application in practice does not lead to the violation of Article 1(a) of the Convention.

To that end, we echo the Committee of Experts’ request to provide a copy of the 2018 Criminal Code amendments criminalizing criticism of the King as well as information on the practical application of criminal provisions falling within the scope of Article1(a) of the Convention.

Concerning punishment for participation in strikes, this is a new issue that the Committee of Experts identified in its observation in relation to Cambodia’s application of the Convention. We take note of the ITUC’s observations regarding two members of the CLC being sentenced to imprisonment for misdemeanour and malicious defamation. We also take note of the Committee of Experts’ observations on the arrest and prosecution of four trade unionist leaders accused of having organized an illegal strike; of a referral by UN human rights experts concerning the arrest and detention of union leaders and activists during a strike; and of the concern expressed by UN experts as to the use of COVID-19 measures to restrict lawful and peaceful strikes. We agree with the Committee of Experts’ request to the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that the application of legislative provisions does not lead in practice to the imposition of sanctions involving compulsory labour on workers for the mere fact of organizing or peacefully participating in strikes.

Furthermore, we agree with the Committee of Experts in requesting the Government to provide a copy of the court decision regarding the arrest and prosecution of the four union leaders. However, we also note that the instances cited are not clear evidence in themselves of systemic departure from the provisions of the Convention. It is, in our view, not sufficient to conflate membership of a union with imprisonment for offences against national law as an argument to support allegations of breaches of the Convention. Rather, it is necessary to understand the prevailing circumstances in each case. For instance, it would be relevant to know the details of the conduct of the cited individuals at the time of their arrest. That is why sighting the relevant court decision is important.

This is not to deny that those imprisoned have been wrongly treated. Rather it is making the point that we need to look under every stone when such instances occur to make sure there is a breach of international standards and not a straightforward transgression of valid criminal law.

That said, we remain concerned that such discrimination is even possible under Cambodia’s law. In that regard, since the discussion of this case in 2018, there has been no apparent progress with regard to legally protecting freedom of expression and national provisions continue to be used to prosecute and convict persons for expressing their political views. We therefore call upon the Government to avail itself of ILO technical assistance to assist in addressing the issues raised here.

We also request the Government to address, in consultation with its social partners, issues arising from the instances of arrest and imprisonment of trade union officials to ensure that these instances were in compliance with the Convention and to that end to provide a copy of the court judgments relating to those instances. We also request the Government to provide a copy of the 2018 Criminal Code amendments criminalizing criticism of the King, as well as information on the practical application of criminal provisions falling within the scope of Article1(a) of the Convention. And lastly, we urge the Government to take steps to ensure that work required of prisoners is compatible with the stated objection of education and rehabilitation, and not a punitive measure. Thank you for your attention. We look forward to hearing the remaining comments.

Worker member, Cambodia – I am the President of the CLC and, on behalf of Cambodian workers, I would like to stress on the labour situation in Cambodia.

The Government of Cambodia has ratified 13 ILO Conventions including core labour standards in 1999. The Committee of Experts, as well as this Committee in 2018, conclude that Cambodia should bring its laws and practices into compliance with the Convention. No penalties involving forced labour or compulsory labour may be imposed in compliance with Article 1(a) of the Convention. As pointed out by the Committee of Experts again in their report, the penal sanction of forced and compulsory work under convicted criminal sentences is still provided for in section 68 of the Cambodian Act on Prisons. Expressing political views and opinions that oppose the political, social and economic systems in Cambodia is still not free without the risk of penal sanctions, contrary to Article 1(a) of the Convention.

Workers and trade unions are not free from the threat of penal sanctions when conducting and taking part in labour strikes and protests under Article 1(d) of the Convention.

Review of labour legislation: the Committee of Experts has asked the Government to ensure that the penalties under a number of provisions in domestic laws do not involve forced and compulsory labour. In the experience of the trade unions, the Criminal Code and other penal offences in our laws are often used by Government authorities, employers and strike-breakers to prosecute and convict us when we are conducting trade union activities, expressing public opinions and also conducting strikes.

In too many cases, the following provisions are used against workers and union leaders to sentence them to jail or put them under prolonged and non-transparent legal procedures for years without a trial. These include the Criminal Code: section 28 (instigation); sections 494 and 495 (incitement to commit felony); sections 217–218 (intentional violence); section 411 (intentional damages); sections 311 and 312 (defamation); section 424 (threats to destroy); section 78 (obstruction under the Act on Traffic); as well as section 11 (Act on prevention of the spread of COVID-19).

We are concerned that incitement charges under sections 494 and 495 are actively used to silence trade unionists and activists from publicly expressing and sharing their views and criticisms of Government policies and practices and to intimidate workers from continuously taking part in strikes and protests led by trade unions. We would not be able to perform our role, we would not be able to speak up and organize collective bargaining if these provisions can be broadly applied to criminalize our opinions and trade union actions.

We urge the Government to consult and review the broad scope and arbitrary application of these legal provisions with trade unions and the social partners, and to ensure that these provisions are not used to harass and penalize the free expression of political opinions, the free organization of trade union activities, labour strikes and protests.

Convictions and sentences for expressing opinions, organizing strikes and trade unions: we are deeply concerned at the arrests, detention, judicial harassment and conviction of members of independent trade unions, NGOs and association representatives, independent journalists, human rights defenders and social activists in Cambodia when exercising the right to express opinions and conducting strikes and labour protests.

In 2016, 46 workers of a bus company were dismissed for organizing a trade union. Federation union leaders and activists were charged with multiple criminal offences. Van Narong and Pel Voeun were given suspended sentences of imprisonment of six months for misdemeanour and malicious defamation. The case is still pending in the Appeal Court. Mr Ya Kuyny and Mr Ngim Bunthy were sentenced to two years in prison in 2018.

Mr Chan Rith, Mr Seb Thon and Mr Tep Sopha, leader and members of the Farmer Association for Peace and Development (FAPD), were sued in two separate cases by landowners and the Ministry of the Environment on charges of intentional violence in farmers’ protests against land grabbing. Tep Sopha was sentenced to one year of imprisonment and completed his sentence in 2020.

Ms Tang Sakbuoy was sued by her employer for fabricated criminal offences after she and others formed a trade union. She was sentenced to 18 months in prison in 2020. The Court has upheld an arrest warrant against her.

Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodian Confederation of Unions (CCU), was convicted of incitement to commit felony and social unrest after he made public comments on the loss of land by farmers in border areas. He was sentenced to two years in prison in 2021.

Chhim Sithar and eight members of the LRSU were convicted of incitement to commit felony for leading strikes to protest against mass retrenchment and union-busting by a casino group. They were sentenced to between one-and-a-half and two years in prison in May 2023.

We urge the Government to drop all charges against trade union leaders, labour association leaders and activists for exercising the right to freedom of expression, freedom of organization and the right to strike and protest. We also urge the Government to expedite the resolution of the long‑standing criminal cases concerning freedom of association with trade unionists. Of the 44 criminal cases submitted to the Government in 2018, 29 cases are still pending.

Employer member, Cambodia – I speak on behalf of the Cambodian Federation of Employers and Business Associations. First of all, we request that any issues that are beyond the scope of the discussions of the Convention, which is the main topic today, be removed from the record of proceedings. As there is a lot of information today, we are not prepared to respond to all of it. Let me start by giving you the context.

Cambodian Employers wish to draw the attention of the Committee to the content of this Cambodian case. Cambodia is holding national elections on 23 July this year, which is only a few weeks from now. Around this time, political election campaigns are being carried out intensely on the ground right now and political parties are campaigning to win voter support and competing to reach voters through both national and international platforms. We Cambodian Employers wish to reaffirm our adherence to the Conventions that Cambodia has ratified, and widespread support for compliance with the Conventions by the tripartite partners and other interested parties, including the Convention.

The matter brought before the Committee today refers to claims and events relating to activities by political parties and trade unions, respectively. We are not aware that in Cambodia in law and practice there is punishment for holding or expressing political views or views ideologically opposed to the established system or for participating in a lawful strike.

While taking the matter very seriously, we would respectfully ask the Committee of Experts to provide more concrete evidence of forced labour or compulsory labour so that these cases can be effectively addressed.

In Cambodia, insofar as the Labour Law provides for certain sanctions and punishments in the context of strikes, those sanctions are specific and limited to protecting non-striking workers from coercion or threats, protecting striking workers from unlawful sanctions by employers, and protecting striking workers from replacement beyond minimum service arrangements. That stated, the Labour Law also provides that a strike must be peaceful. Committing acts of violence during a strike is considered serious misconduct that could be subject to punishment. Under Cambodia’s legal system, the commission of violence or other crimes that can implicate the Criminal Code subjects the offender to criminal sanctions pursuant to law.

As the Committee of Experts has noted from the observations of the ITUC, the two individuals at issue were sentenced to imprisonment for the commission of crimes under the Criminal Code. As it appears, their sanctions result from the prosecution of crimes they committed, not from participation in a strike. The Committee of Experts notes the ITUC observation according to which the two individuals were sentenced after taking part in a protest. However, participation in a strike does not render any individual immune from prosecution for the commission of criminal acts or other violations of the law. Regarding the actual facts and circumstances of the two individuals, the Government has indicated the that individuals in question are not imprisoned, and that they are in fact actively employed. This would exclude that they are now subject to any form of forced or compulsory labour.

In conclusion, on behalf of Cambodian Employers, let me say that we are deeply concerned about the potential adverse impacts of continuing to consider allegations that do not have concrete evidence of breaches of the Convention on real lives and livelihoods in Cambodia. In our view, paying attention to such allegations without having grounds in fact or sharing concrete evidence places Cambodia at risk of being misperceived and wrongfully maligned as being involved in forced labour and modern slavery. The impact and loss can be devastating, not only for Cambodia’s reputation, but also its ability to attract tourists, talent and investment, and in turn will harm Cambodia’s workers, businesses and sustainable development.

Now, if there are situations with concrete evidence of forced labour, we certainly call on the Government to look into the issue to resolve these issues regarding forced labour and, if need be, request technical assistance from the ILO.

Government member, Sweden – I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union (EU) and its Member States. The candidate countries Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, the EFTA country Norway, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.

In line with the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy of 2020, we are committed to the promotion, protection, respect and fulfilment of human rights, of which labour rights are an integral part, including the abolition of forced labour.

In this endeavour, we support the ILO in its indispensable role to develop, promote and supervise the application of international labour standards and of fundamental Conventions in particular.

The EU and its Member States have been committed development partners of Cambodia, including through the “Everything But Arms” (EBA) arrangement under the EU’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences, granting duty-free and quota-free access to the EU market, resulting in sustained growth and job creation in past decades.

The trade benefits granted under the EBA arrangement are subject to the condition that Cambodia respects core international principles, enshrined in core UN and ILO Conventions. Due to serious and systematic violations of human rights, especially the right to political participation and fundamental freedom, as of August 2020, this preferential treatment has been partially suspended. We have continuously expressed our deep concerns over political developments in the country.

We deeply regret the existence of provisions in various laws, such as the Act on Prisons of 2011, the Act on Political Parties as amended in 2017 and the Criminal Code of 2009 as amended in 2018, which provide scope for penal sanctions that may involve compulsory labour, and which the Cambodian authorities continue to use against members of opposition parties, activists and human rights defenders, as well as journalists and social media activists, and trade union members. We express our deep concern about the persistent violation of freedom of expression. We deplore the fact that people expressing dissent or criticism continue to be convicted and sentenced to penalties of imprisonment that may involve compulsory prison labour. No penalties that may involve compulsory labour should be imposed for the peaceful expression of political views or views opposed to the established system.

We note with concern the observations of the UN Human Rights Committee. We join the Committee of Experts and call on the Cambodian authorities to take immediate and effective measures to ensure that persons who express political views or views opposed to the established political, economic or social system are not punished with penal sanctions. We therefore urge the Cambodian authorities to restrict the scope of the provisions of the relevant laws to situations connected with the use of violence or incitement to violence by repealing sanctions involving compulsory labour to ensure that their application in practice does not lead to the violation of the Convention.

The next steps of the Cambodian authorities on stipulations of the draft Cybercrime Law, currently under preparation, and on the sub-decree on the National Internet Gateway, the implementation of which has been suspended, will be a litmus test of the willingness of the Cambodian authorities to engage and change their course of action.

In line with the Committee of Experts, we also urge the Cambodian authorities to take the necessary measures to ensure that the application of legislative provisions will not lead in practice to the imposition of sanctions that may involve forced labour on workers and trade union members for the mere fact of organizing or peacefully participating in strikes. We are worried about reports related to the arrests and prosecution of trade union members and leaders for participation in strikes. We join the call by the Committee of Experts on the Cambodian authorities to provide a copy of the court decision regarding the four leaders of the Workers Friendship Union Federation who were arrested and prosecuted following the organization of a strike.

In relation to forced labour in general, we are alarmed by the number of cases of human trafficking involving forced labour and their dramatic increase over the last two years. In this regard, we urge the authorities to step up their efforts to combat and prevent trafficking in persons in the country. We continue to request the Cambodian authorities to take the necessary measures to ensure the prosecution of these cases, to provide timely information on arrests and convictions, and to protect and assist victims of trafficking.

We also strongly encourage the Cambodian authorities to implement all the other recommendations arising from the ILO’s direct contacts mission in the spring of 2022, to stop labour rights violations and embark on a constructive path of reform. The EU and its Member States will remain closely seized of the situation in Cambodia.

Government member, Switzerland – Switzerland reiterates the concerns raised last year, and in 2017, in this Committee in relation to the application by Cambodia of the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87).

Since 1999, Cambodia has appeared regularly on the list of cases examined by the Committee. Today, Switzerland expresses its concern at the use of the provisions of the Criminal Code for the systematic restriction of freedom of expression and freedom of association. It is essential for everyone, and particularly journalists, human rights defenders, political opponents and social media activists, to be able to express their views freely without the risk of reprisals.

Switzerland recalls that, in accordance with Article 1 of the Convention, the exercise of freedom of expression and opinion, as well as freedom of association and of assembly, must not be subject to arbitrary restrictions, nor lead to penalties involving the obligation to work.

Switzerland therefore firmly condemns the practices described by the Committee of Experts and the Special Rapporteur on Cambodia of the UN Human Rights Council intended to punish persons who express or peacefully demonstrate their opposition to the established political, social or economic system. It has noted the observations made and explanations provided by the Government of Cambodia and calls for the adoption of all the necessary measures to bring an end to these practices.

Worker member, Australia – On behalf of the Australian union movement, I register our deep concern over the situation of workers’ rights in Cambodia, where criminal offences are broadly used by the Government to criminalize the normal activities of trade unionists, the free expression of opinions and the right to lead and participate in strikes.

The Committee of Experts observes that opposition political activists, journalists, human rights defenders and social media activists who express dissent or criticism of the authorities under the protected scope of this Convention are convicted and imprisoned obliging them to perform forced or compulsory work pursuant to section 68 of the Act on Prisons.

The conviction and sentencing of Mr Rong Chhun, President of the CCU in 2020, was made on the basis of the claims of lost land by farmers resulting from the work of the Joint Border Affairs Committee demarcating the border between Cambodia and Viet Nam during his visit to the area on 20 July 2020. On 30 July 2020, Mr Rong Chhun was arrested and detained pending a trial under charges of “incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest” under sections 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code. Ms Sar Kanika, President of the Cambodian Informal Labour Association, and Mr Ton Nimol, member of the Cambodia Watchdog Council, who had joined protests calling for Rong Chhun’s release, were both arrested on 7 August for posting Rong Chhun’s statement on social media and charged under the same criminal offence and put under pretrial detention. On 18 August 2021, Rong Chhun was sentenced to 24 months in prison, and Sar Kanika and Ton Nimol were sentenced to 20 months. In November 2021, the Phnom Penh municipal court ruled on the appeal and suspended their sentences. They served 15 months in prison including pretrial detention.

The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia noted in 2021 that “the prison terms and heavy fines handed to these three activists are neither justified nor proportionate”.

The Government continues to use imprisonment and the threat of penal sanctions to suppress dissent. Indeed, just this Friday, Prime Minister Hun Sen made an explicit public threat to reimprison Rong Chhun, who is now also Vice-President of the Candlelight Party, and his supporters if they protested against the Candlelight Party’s disqualification.

We call on the Government to respect their obligations under the Convention by ceasing the criminalization of dissent and to immediately and unconditionally release individuals who have been imprisoned for exercising their right to freedom of expression and assembly, including union leader Chhim Sithar and her fellow unionists, who have just been sentenced two weeks ago targeted for exercising their rights to freedom of association.

Government member, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland – The United Kingdom commends the Royal Government of Cambodia for supporting the ILO’s Better Factories Cambodia programme, which monitors and reports on working conditions in Cambodian garment factories, thereby helping factories improve working conditions according to national and international standards.

The United Kingdom also notes Cambodia’s long-standing cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights and its progress on economic, social and cultural rights. We applaud Cambodia for its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in terms of social protection and healthcare.

Acknowledging the economic progress that Cambodia has made over the past 20 years, the United Kingdom remains committed to working with Cambodia in its efforts to also advance civil and political rights through constructive dialogue

Strengthening human rights protections, such as freedom of speech, association and thought, would also support Cambodia’s economic sector by encouraging innovation through the open sharing of ideas and information. Therefore, the United Kingdom regrets the sentencing of Chhim Sithar, leader of the LRSU, and eight other current and former union members on 25 May 2023.

The United Kingdom appeals to the Cambodian authorities to recall the fundamental importance of respect for freedom of association as one of the primary safeguards of peace and social justice, as was fully recognized by Cambodia when it voluntarily ratified ILO Convention No. 87 and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98), over 20 years ago.

At the same time, the United Kingdom continues to monitor restrictions on civil and political space and is concerned about the ongoing restrictions on civil and political space.

We are disappointed that the Voice of Democracy, one of Cambodia’s few independent media outlets, has been closed. The United Kingdom has publicly stated that a free press is essential to open and democratic societies. Freedom of expression is not measured by the number of media outlets a nation has; media outlets must be independent and balanced.

The United Kingdom also regrets the handling and outcome of the Kem Sokha case and his sentencing to 27 years of house arrest, as well as the decision of the Cambodian Electoral Commission to reject the Candlelight Party’s election registration.

The United Kingdom calls on Cambodia to continue to engage in constructive dialogue and to implement the recommendations of the report.

Employer member, Thailand – I am making this statement on behalf of the ASEAN Confederation of Employers (ACE). Freedom from forced or compulsory labour is a cornerstone of the decent work concept and we join Cambodia in reaffirming adherence and support for the abolition of forced labour.

Concerning the Cambodia case, we consider Cambodia has set out a strong and compelling case for its compliance, while also providing valuable contextual information and facts of the case and underscoring the importance of analysis of how the Convention is applied, taking into account the different national realities and legal systems that exist in Cambodia. In this regard, we wish to emphasize and highlight the value and effectiveness of Cambodia’s national systems in addressing important issues of interest. The systems we have established in Cambodia, including systems of social dialogue, whether formal or informal, tripartite or bipartite, are inherently context-sensitive, helping to promote consensus, build better employment relationships and advance industrial peace, which ultimately benefits workers, employers, economic and social development in Cambodia. In this respect, we urge this Committee to take into account the above factors and respect the existing internal system and practices implemented in Cambodia.

Worker member, Switzerland – The Committee of Experts has rightly again expressed its deep concerns over the continued use of the provisions of the national legislation, including the Criminal Code, to prosecute and convict persons who express views opposed to the authorities in Cambodia, or take part in strikes. There is evidence, since this case was examined in 2018, of an increasing number of convictions and penal sanctions involving the obligation of compulsory work against trade unionists and activists in breach of Article 1 of the Convention. For example, Ms Tang Sorkbouy and six other union founders were dismissed on 31 October 2018, after having created a union at her company and demanding the improvement of working conditions. Although their complaint at the Arbitration Council resulted successfully in an award to reinstate the workers in February 2020, the company filed an appeal against this decision and refused the reinstatement.

In June 2020, the company filed a lawsuit against Ms Tang Sorkbouy on charges of forgery and breach of trust after nine years of employment. She was tried in absentia and sentenced by the Phnom Penh court of first instance to two years and six months imprisonment and a high fine. She had never received the summons to attend the court, allegedly due to discrepancies in the postal registration address. An appeal by her lawyer to the court of next instance in October 2020 was unsuccessful. The sentence was reduced to 18 months. We are very concerned to note an increase in cases in which union activists could not be dissuaded from their commitment by persecution for their union activities, but face serious criminal charges which force them to withdraw from their engagement.

We urgently call upon the Government to take all the necessary measures to ensure that criminal charges are not used to intimidate, convict and imprison labour and union activists for expressing views and exercising their rights, which makes the national law allowing forced labour in prison applicable to them, in violation of the Convention.

Government member, Canada – Canada takes note of the Government of Cambodia’s report and additional information provided earlier this week, which affirm that the freedom of citizens to express themselves peacefully and to engage in politics is guaranteed by Cambodia’s national legislation.

The findings presented by the Committee of Experts, however, describe the continued use of the provisions of the national legislation to arrest, prosecute and convict persons who express political or dissenting views, including those of opposition political party members, human rights defenders and journalists, leading to penalties such as imprisonment, which involves compulsory prison labour in violation of the Convention. The increasing prevalence of these actions is of particular concern to Canada in the lead up to Cambodia’s July 2023 national elections.

Canada strongly condemns the use of the national legislation to prosecute and convict political activists, journalists, human rights defenders and social media activists who express dissent or criticism of the authorities. In line with the recommendations of the Committee of Experts, Canada urges the Government of Cambodia to:

- review and revise the Act on Political Parties as well as the Criminal Code, by clearly restricting the scope of these provisions in connection with the use of violence or incitement to violence, and by repealing sanctions involving compulsory labour, so as to ensure that their application in practice does not lead to the violation of the Convention.

- take the necessary measures to ensure that the application of legislative provisions will not lead in practice to the imposition of sanctions involving compulsory labour, such as compulsory prison labour, on workers for the mere fact of organizing or peacefully participating in strikes.

We sincerely hope that the Government’s next report to the Committee of Experts will demonstrate positive developments.

Government member, Brunei Darussalam – I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). We have taken note of the report of the Committee of Experts and the detail presented by the Royal Government of Cambodia.

We acknowledge and appreciate Cambodia’s progress made in advancing labour rights and are reassured by the fact that forced or compulsory labour finds no room in Cambodia, as enshrined in the two core Conventions. Cambodia’s strict prohibition of forced or compulsory labour which is upheld both in law and in practice is commendable.

We encourage the Royal Government of Cambodia to continue its endeavours towards the promotion of decent work, labour rights and improving working conditions. We also request the Committee to ensure a clear and impartial interpretation and application of the Conventions in question, thus eliminating any ambiguity that may lead to confusion between different labour Conventions.

Recognizing the critical role that social dialogue and tripartism play in fostering harmonious industrial relations, we encourage the Royal Government of Cambodia and its social partners to continue utilizing the social dialogue process at every level in order to promote the application of fundamental labour standards.

Interpretation from Chinese: Government member, China – We thank the representative of the Government of Cambodia for the detailed information. We have carefully read the report of the Committee of Experts. We note that the Government has earnestly fulfilled its obligations under the ratified Conventions and has made unrelenting efforts to this end. The Constitution clearly recognizes and protects human rights and Cambodia’s labour laws comply with international labour standards. They expressly prohibit forced or compulsory labour. The Cambodian Government ensures that no penalties involving compulsory labour may be imposed on persons who express political views opposed to the Cambodian political system. The Government actively cooperates with the ILO and submits relevant materials in a timely manner, which demonstrates the Government’s positive attitude of cooperation and dialogue. We appreciate this.

We believe that the consideration of the case should focus on Cambodia’s compliance with the Convention, rather than interfering in a country’s internal affairs, let alone politicizing technical issues. We call on this Committee to form a conclusion based on comprehensive and accurate facts and to objectively and fairly reflect the progress made by the Government in implementing the Convention, and finally to make a constructive decision to avoid interfering in a country’s sovereignty, legal system and internal affairs in a conclusion.

Government member, United States of America – We thank the Government of Cambodia for providing additional information to this Committee in response to the recent observations of the Committee of Experts. We note that the information provided relates to the use of several provisions of national legislation that allow for penalties of imprisonment and sanctions involving the obligation to work as a punishment for activities protected under the Convention.

Despite this information, we remain deeply concerned that workers, trade union leaders and other human rights defenders continue to be imprisoned and subjected to compulsory labour for exercising their fundamental principles and rights, including the right to strike. We note that the Committee of Experts deeply deplores the continued use of national legislation to arrest, prosecute and convict these individuals, leading to the imposition of penalties of imprisonment which involve compulsory prison labour.

We are also deeply concerned that nine members of the LRSU were convicted for incitement to commit a felony under sections 494 and 495 of the Cambodian Criminal Code on 25 May after engaging in a peaceful strike at a casino that began in December 2021, and pursuant to section 68 of the Act on Prisons of 2011, are subject while imprisoned to an obligation to work.

We urge the Government to take immediate action to implement the recent recommendations of the ILO supervisory bodies, prioritizing work in the following areas: first, ensure that no terms of imprisonment with punishments of forced labour are imposed for the peaceful exercise of trade union activities, such as participation in public and industrial strikes and protests, including in the case of the casino strike; and to that end, review and amend section 42 of the Act on Political Parties, as well as sections 445, 437 bis, 494, 495, 522 and 523 of the Criminal Code, to clearly restrict the scope of these provisions to apply only to situations connected with the use of violence or incitement to violence, or by repealing sanctions involving compulsory labour so as to ensure that their application in practice does not lead to the violation of the Convention.

We urge the Government of Cambodia to take all the necessary measures to address these long-standing issues, in compliance with the Convention. The United States remains committed to engaging with the Government to advance workers’ rights in Cambodia.

Worker member, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland – I speak on behalf of the Workers of the United Kingdom with the support of the IndustriALL Global Union. The Convention is essential to prevent forced labour or compulsory labour as a means of repressing government critics and punishing trade unionists for having participated in strikes. We note that prison sentences in Cambodia, in most cases, involve forced labour. The threat of a prison sentence, therefore, is a threat of forced labour, and the use of that threat to curtail trade union activities remains a breach of the Convention.

This case was double-footnoted by the Committee in 2018, and the Government was urged to take measures in law and practice to ensure that no penalties involving forced labour or compulsory labour may be imposed. Despite that, on 11 December that year, six national trade union leaders were each sentenced to two-and-a-half-years suspended jail sentences for taking part in strikes demanding higher statutory minimum wages in 2013. They were prosecuted in 2014 on multiple charges of committing acts of violence, damage to property and traffic obstructions, later changed to instigation, which encompass a broader scope under section 28 of the Criminal Code. These suspended sentences also included a collective fine of approximately US$6,800, which effectively stopped them from engaging in labour strikes and protests. The appeal court eventually acquitted them on 28 May 2019.

Employers have pursued a similar pattern of judicial harassment, filing criminal lawsuits with criminal charges under sections 217, 218 and 411 of the Criminal Code for their involvement in wage strikes in the garment sector between 2013 and 2014. This has been a significant problem in the country’s garment sector.

For example, two unionists were convicted of intentional violence with aggravating circumstances (sections 217 and 218 of the Criminal Code), after a 2013 strike in a garment company. They too were sentenced to a suspended prison sentence, in December 2018. The same month, nine trade unionists had their charges of intentional violence with aggravating circumstances dropped by the court following a 2014 strike. Two, however, received a suspended sentence, which they appealed in 2019.

Finally, again in December’s flurry of punitive activity, seven trade unionists, including two from the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Unions (C.CAWDU) garment union, were charged with aggravating circumstances (section 411 of the Criminal Code) after supporting striking workers demanding better working conditions. They received another suspended sentence and a massive fine (US$8.5 million). Again, given the flimsy nature of the accusations, the workers sought to appeal in 2019. These criminal sanctions provide for a penalty of imprisonment of between one and five years and were clearly used to convict trade unionists for their participation in strikes, something covered by Article 1(d) of the Convention. Even suspended sentences therefore serve to intimidate Cambodian workers and control their freedom to carry out their legitimate activities, including to participate in strikes, with the threat of compulsory work under section 68 of the Act. This is a clear breach of the Convention.

Worker member, Italy – I am speaking on behalf of Italian unions: the Italian General Confederation of Labour (CGIL), the Italian Confederation of Trade Unions (CISL) and the Italian Labour Union (UIL). Italian workers are concerned at the imprisonment of trade unionists and escalating judicial harassment against civil society activists who are defending the rights and interests of the communities they represent.

The Government of Cambodia is increasingly resorting to the use of penalties of imprisonment under the Criminal Code and other laws against trade unionists and activists in situations covered by Article 1 of the Convention. For example, Tep Sopha, a member of the Farmers Association for Peace and Development was convicted of criminal offences and obstruction of public officers in a lawsuit brought by the Ministry of the Environment because he was organizing farmers in a protest in Sihanoukville to dispute the designated conservation lands which are traditionally the homeland of these farmers. He was sent to prison for one year on 23 January 2019.

Seb Thon and ten other members of the organization were sued by a landowner for intentional damage and assaults during a protest by farmers against land grabbing in December 2019. He was given a suspended sentence of one year in prison and a fine. There has been no progress on his appeal to the court since 2020.

Following the prosecution of Rong Chhun, President of the CCU, in July 2020 on incitement charges for making a public statement on the loss of land by farmers, the Ministry of the Interior and the police authorities took action to arrest and charge ten civil society and youth activists under sections 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code. They were released from detention in November 2021 on probation. In 2021, four activists from an environmental organization, Mother Nature, were arrested and charged for insulting the King and plotting. In November 2022, a forestry activist was sentenced to five years of imprisonment under section 97 of the Act on Forestry. In May 2023, land rights activists from the Coalition of Cambodian Farmer Community were arrested after their internal project planning workshop.

We urge the Government to drop all the pending charges and cease to use custodial penalties involving compulsory work and forced labour on trade unionists and activists who are simply exercising their fundamental rights and freedoms.

Observer, International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations (IUF) – I am speaking here today to raise the matter of the arbitrary arrest and detention of several members of our affiliate in Cambodia, the LRSU. The arrests included its President Chhim Sithar. The arrests were conducted following a peaceful strike in opposition to repeated acts of union-busting at their employer in Phnom Penh. They are being punished for participation in a strike, contrary to Article 1(d) of the Convention.

In January 2022, several UN Special Rapporteurs denounced their arrests, finding that “many of the arrests of the mostly women strikers were conducted in a violent way and appear to contravene the freedoms of association, assembly and expression”. The union activists were charged with so called “incitement to commit a felony” under sections 494 and 495 of the Cambodian Criminal Code. The previous ILO Director‑General, Guy Ryder, had appealed to the Prime Minister of the country “to use his powers to ensure the immediate release from custody of all detained workers and the dropping of all criminal charges related to their trade union activity”.

Last month, a court found nine leaders of the LRSU guilty, including its President Chhim Sithar, who was sentenced to two years in prison, eight months of which she has already served. Five others were given sentences of one-and-a-half years, and three were given one-year suspended sentences. As the Committee of Experts has previously noted, penalties of imprisonment include the imposition of compulsory labour.

We condemn the imprisonment of our members for their trade union activity, and the complete lack of due process and the right to a fair trial to defend themselves against baseless charges. We echo the words of the Committee of Experts, which has found “that there has been no progress with regard to protecting freedom of expression in Cambodia” and “deeply deplores the continued use of the provisions of the national legislation”, including the Criminal Code, “to prosecute and convict persons who express their political views or views ideologically opposed to the established political, social or economic system, leading to penalties of imprisonment involving compulsory prison labour”.

We reiterate the conclusions of the Committee on Freedom of Association, which in March 2023 recalled “that no one should be deprived of their freedom or be subject to penal sanctions for the mere fact of organizing or participating in a peaceful strike”, and request the Government to ensure that all charges brought against LRSU leaders and members for participating in a peaceful strike are dropped. We urge the Government of Cambodia to immediately release LRSU President Chhim Sithar and all the members of the LRSU who are in prison, and indeed to release all persons who are arbitrarily imprisoned.

Observer, International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) – Article 1(d) of the Convention explicitly prohibits recourse to sanctions involving any form of forced or compulsory labour as a punishment for having participated in strikes, that is sanctions involving compulsory labour for the mere fact of organizing or participating in strikes. Yet, provisions of the Cambodian Criminal Code carrying such penalties are regularly used to target trade unionists taking lawful strike action.

Convictions under relevant provisions of the Criminal Code can lead to compulsory labour by virtue of section 68 of the Act on Prisons. This is not just about rehabilitation of prisoners. Section 71 of the Act on Prisons allows the Director of Prisons to enter into contracts with private parties to generate employment for the prison industry, handicraft and farming programmes, and to enter into contracts to sell the products from these programmes. Private entities can profit from compulsory prison labour. This in itself is a violation of Convention No. 29. The criminalization of strikes with the possibility of compulsory labour is exacerbated by the constant judicial harassment of trade unionists by employers and strike-breakers, and the ambiguous criminal justice process. Convictions carrying penalties of compulsory labour for participating in strikes also create an atmosphere of intimidation and fear prejudicial to freedom of association.

The Committee of Experts has highlighted the cases of transport workers Van Narong and Pel Voeun, who were convicted of criminal defamation pursuant to sections 311 and 312 of the Criminal Code and sentenced to six months in prison. It is important to understand the facts of this case to fully comprehend the matter. Following a 2015 strike by workers of a major bus company, two union leaders were detained after they were themselves attacked by members of a tuk-tuk and moto-taxi association. They were arrested on trumped-up charges of aggravated intentional violence and obstructing public officials under the Criminal Code but were later released. The matter did not end there. The bus company filed a lawsuit alleging the same offences against both of them and four leaders of the CLC, who were not even present during the protest. Other criminal lawsuits by the bus company, strike-breakers and counter-protestors ensued, involving a total of 46 trade unionists. Two of the trade unionists in question were Van Narong and Pel Voeun. Although the Government claims that the two are currently on bail pending appeal, this only offers them limited comfort, knowing that they may be convicted for crimes they did not commit which could result in compulsory prison labour.

We call on Cambodia to comply with Article 1(d) of the Convention and end the imposition of sanctions involving compulsory prison labour on workers participating in strikes.

Government representative – My delegation wishes to extend our appreciation to all speakers and delegates for their constructive interventions and insightful comments. We again wish to reaffirm Cambodia’s unwavering commitment to honour the Convention in respect of the abolition of forced labour in our nation. Contrary to the allegations of other delegations, Cambodia always commits to the promotion and protection of human rights. Freedom of assembly, association and expression for individuals and civil societies are guaranteed in the Kingdom, as enshrined in the Constitution and other international instruments. As a country that steadfastly upholds the rule of law, strengthening the implementation of laws and regulations is fundamental to our good governance. Any attempts to mischaracterize law enforcement activities as political pressure would undermine the rule of law. As such, we are compelled to clarify that certain individuals, who were associated with strike activities, were apprehended not merely due to their involvement in illegal strikes, but rather that their acts caused substantial disturbance to public order and security, as well as infringing the right to life of others, particularly amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, these cases are pending further legal proceedings before the courts.

We affirm that forced labour is entirely incompatible with our values and has no foothold in the Kingdom. To this day, there remains no substantiated evidence of compulsory prison labour being used as a punitive measure for individuals who merely expressed their political views or views opposed to the established system, or are involved in strikes in Cambodia. Accordingly, in the absence of evidence in respect of forced labour, we question the validity of our footnoted status. In fact, prison labour is primarily a rehabilitative process aimed at facilitating the reintegration of prisoners into society and the labour market. Under the Act on Prisons, “low-risk” convicted individuals possessing the requisite physical capabilities may be called upon to engage in work as part of the prison daily routine, or to perform tasks benefiting the community or participate in prison industry, prison handicraft, and the prison farming industry. Such employment is not assigned based on political opposition, human rights advocacy or journalistic activity, and safety measures are diligently implemented. However, we observe with regret that a handful of delegates have attempted to exploit and politicize this discussion in favour of a group of individuals who were prosecuted for a conspiracy to overthrow a legitimately elected government. In this case, we are therefore compelled to stress that such an offence goes beyond criminality; it is a direct affront against the people and the very essence of democracy. Indeed, a crime is a crime, and it cannot be justified for other aspirations. All charges are imposed in response to constitutional and criminal breaches, not political or fabricated motives.

As for the freedoms of expression and the press, they remain alive and dynamic in the Kingdom. The licence-revoked media outlet grossly breached the profession of journalism by engaging in spreading fake news. As such, the move against an unprofessional media outlet did not undermine the freedom of the vibrant press or freedom of expression in the Kingdom but contributes to the strengthening of the journalism profession. Indeed, it is no surprise that some delegates are exploring and exploiting all ways and means to put Cambodia on the international radar. A simple answer is because we will have general elections in July this year. They have no shame, even breaking rules and practices to demonize our Government. Certain issues, such as the dissolution of a political party, the disqualification of a political party to participate in the July elections and the licence-revoked media outlet are not covered by the agenda items today or the Convention. Therefore we remind delegates that politicization not only hinders productive dialogue, but also threatens the integrity and mandate of this Committee.

In closing, my delegation wishes to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Committee for its observation, and to all ASEAN Member States, distinguished delegates, workers’ and employers’ representatives, and others for their invaluable interventions and support extended to Cambodia throughout this process.

Employer members – The Employer members thank the various speakers that took the floor and notably the Government of Cambodia for their interventions and the information they provided. We remind the Committee that the Convention is a fundamental Convention, which therefore requires special consideration by ILO Governments, workers and employers. Our position on this case is aligned with the recommendations of the Committee of Experts. The Employer members stand against any form of unlawful restriction on freedom of expression and connected fundamental rights. But we do reiterate our earlier point, which is that before making findings, we need to investigate all of the circumstances, and hence the call for more information on aspects such as the imprisonment of various people. With all of those things in mind, the Employer members recommend that the Government of Cambodia take immediate and effective measures:

- to ensure that persons who express political views, or views opposed to the established system, are not punished with sanctions including compulsory labour, contrary to Article 1(a) of the Convention, and that the application of legislative provisions does not lead in practice to the imposition of sanctions on workers for the mere fact of organizing, or peacefully participating in strikes contrary to Article 1(d) of the Convention;

- to review the wording of the relevant sections of the Criminal Code and the Act on Political Parties, by restricting the scope to situations involving the use of violence, or incitement to violence, or by repealing sanctions involving compulsory labour;

- to provide copies of the amendments to the 2018 Criminal Code, which criminalized criticism of the King, as well as information on the practical application of the relevant national provisions of the Criminal Code and Act on Political Parties;

- to provide a copy of the court decision regarding the arrest and prosecution of the four trade union leaders accused of having organized an illegal strike.

Finally, noting the lack of progress regarding the protection of freedom of expression and that no ILO technical assistance has yet been requested, we call on the Government once again to avail itself of technical assistance from the ILO to assist in implementing these recommendations. We count on the Government to provide the requested information by 1 September this year, and to adopt the measures indicated by this Committee in a timely manner.

Worker members – We regret the criticisms made concerning the independent and impartial choice of the Committee of Experts, in accordance with its mandate, to select the case of Cambodia for a double footnote on the basis of the objective criteria recalled in paragraph 144 of its report. The Committee of Experts also explains the reasons for the selection of the case as a double-footnoted case.

We have also heard attempts to justify the prosecution and imprisonment of trade unions with reference to provisions of the national Criminal Code. On this subject, the Workers’ group wishes to insist on the caution that needs to be exercised by everyone when referring to national penal legislation to justify the prosecution and imprisonment of members of workers’ and employers’ organizations for the mere fact of having exercised their rights and civil liberties as set out in the Convention.

The violations of the Convention by the Government of Cambodia have already been discussed by the Committee in 2018. The more general context of flagrant violations of civil liberties, including trade union freedoms, has long given rise to deep-rooted concerns in the Workers’ group.

We have noted during our discussion that the situation in the country has not improved, quite the contrary. We are unfortunately bound to repeat most of our recommendations to the Government of Cambodia. In 2018, Cambodia was already the subject of a double footnote, which further reinforces our concerns at the gravity of the situation.

More recently, in 2021, the Committee also examined the application by Cambodia of Convention No. 87. Following that examination, a direct contacts mission was organized in 2022. The problems examined on that occasion are closely related to the examination of compliance with the Convention by Cambodia and we call on the Government of Cambodia to give effect to the recommendations made by that mission.

The Government is today under an obligation to make a commitment to take all the necessary legislative measures to ensure that sentences involving compulsory labour are not imposed with a view to silencing and censuring the peaceful expression of political opinions. The right of assembly is the means through which citizens can endeavour to ensure the dissemination and acceptance of their views and must therefore also be protected.

Moreover, Article 1(d) of the Convention prohibits the imposition of compulsory labour as a punishment for the organization of or peaceful participation in strikes. The Government must ensure that freedom of association can be exercised in a climate free from intimidation and violence. All persons who have been imprisoned for exercising their right to freedom of expression and of assembly must be released immediately and unconditionally. The prosecutions and convictions handed down must be abandoned. These matters are also the subject of a complaint to the Committee on Freedom of Association, which issued its report in March 2023. We call on the Government to give effect to the recommendations of the Committee on Freedom of Association.

Institutional reforms are also required to guarantee the independence and impartiality of the judiciary. Freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly, freedom of association and protection against arbitrary arrest must be guaranteed as a safeguard against the imposition of compulsory labour as a result of the exercise of these rights. That requires the firm commitment to engage in wide-ranging legislative reforms in relation to certain laws that are manifestly not in conformity with the Convention.

In particular, this will involve reviewing the following legislative provisions in order to bring them into full conformity with the requirements of the Convention:

- section 42 of the Act on Political Parties, as amended in 2017, under which various offences related to the administration or management of a political party which has been dissolved, or whose activities have been suspended by a court, or whose registration has been refused, are punishable by imprisonment of up to one year;

- sections 494 and 495 on incitement to disturb public security by speech, writing, images or any other audio-visual communication in public or to the public;

- section 522 on the publication of commentaries intended to unlawfully coerce judicial authorities;

- section 523 of the Criminal Code of 2009 on discrediting judicial decisions;

- sections 305 to 309 on public defamation and insult; and

- sections 445 and 437 bis of the Criminal Code relating to insult and criticism of the King.

Freedom of expression and of assembly, the right to collective action and the right not to be subject to forced or compulsory labour are extremely important matters for workers, as well as for the values of the ILO as a whole.

The Government must therefore work with the ILO to give full effect to the Convention. A double footnote means that the Committee of Experts is seriously concerned. The Worker members have referred in this respect to section 68 of the Act on Prisons, under which detainees deemed to be physically fit must be assigned to daily prison work, and have expressed opposition to the request for comments on the Act on Trade Unions and the Bill on the minimum wage to be removed from the record.

We invite the Government of Cambodia to avail itself of ILO technical assistance for the implementation of all these recommendations. In view of the gravity of the situation, we also call on the Government to accept a visit by a high-level tripartite mission.

Conclusions of the Committee

The Committee took note of the written and oral information provided by the Government and the discussion that followed.

The Committee deeply deplored the continued use of the provisions of the national legislation, including the Penal Code, to prosecute and convict persons who express their political views or views ideologically opposed to the established political, social or economic system, or to punish those who participate in strikes, leading to penalties of imprisonment involving compulsory prison labour.

The Committee expressed deep concern at the arrest and imprisonment of trade unionists and others for exercising their civil liberties and expressing different political views from that of the Government.

Taking into account the discussion, the Committee urges the Government to take effective and time-bound measures to:

- ensure that the right to hold or express political views or views ideologically opposed to the established political, social or economic system without the threat of penalties involving compulsory labour is fully respected;

- ensure that that the application of legislative provisions do not contravene Article 1 of the Convention by the imposition of sanctions involving compulsory labour;

- repeal or amend relevant provisions of the Penal Code and the Act on Political Parties providing for and leading to penalties of compulsory labour, in consultation with the social partners, in order to bring them into conformity with the Convention;

- immediately and unconditionally release, quash convictions and drop all charges brought against individuals for having expressed political views or views ideologically opposed to the established political, social or economic system, who were punished for having participated in strikes;

- ensure access to effective judicial remedies for victims of compulsory labour in violation of the Convention;

- implement the recommendations related to the matters under the Convention made by the direct contacts mission that took place in March–April 2022 under Convention No. 87; and

- develop an action plan, in consultation with the social partners, to implement these recommendations without delay.

The Committee requests the Government to provide any relevant information requested by the Committee of Experts before 1 September 2023 together with detailed information on the measures taken to implement these recommendations.

The Committee invites the Government to avail itself of ILO technical assistance to effectively implement all of the Committee’s recommendations.