Unlike many other countries in the
region, Cambodia has a history of
trade union representation. The vast
majority of our supplier factories in
the country have trade unions in place.
However, negotiations in the sector
are often confrontational, resulting
in major conflicts and even violence.
Currently, 18% of our supplier factories
in Cambodia have collective
bargaining agreements in place.
Together with the ILO, the Swedish
trade union IF Metall and the Swedish
International Cooperation Development
Agency (SIDA), we have now
started a unique project that will run
through 2014 to 2016. The aim of the
project is to increase this number,
create best practice examples for fair
and solution-oriented negotiations
and ultimately contribute to greater
stability in the market. To achieve
this, we are working jointly to improve
negotiations and conflict resolution
skills amongst both employers and
unions and working with government
institutions to help them establish
frameworks that support this. Currently,
five of our supplier factories
in the country are participating in
the programme. Training sessions
conducted by IF Metall will run
throughout 2015. Moving forward,
we aim to include more supplier factories
while establishing best practice
examples that can lead the way for the
industry show that solution-oriented
collective bargaining is possible and
for the benefit of all.