ILO expresses 'shock and sadness' at killing of Cambodian labour leader

GENEVA (ILO News) - The International Labour Organization (ILO) today expressed its "shock and sadness" at the killing by unidentified assailants of Mr. Chea Vichea, President of the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia, calling his death an "irreplaceable loss".

A letter to the union Mr. Vichea headed noted that the ILO had worked closely with him "to promote decent work for Cambodian women and men and together with social partners in the country to create the basis for a competitive economy based on fundamental rights of working people".

The letter lauded Mr. Vichea for making "a major contribution to national recovery and development", adding: "His legacy is one of which your union can be proud… His demise is an irreplaceable loss for Cambodia and for her people and workers."

Mr. Vichea played a crucial role in the improvement of working conditions, particularly in the garment industry. As a member of ILO projects advisory committees he was a key player in tripartite social dialogue and was a vibrant supporter of ILO values of social justice.

The letter expressed its condolences to Mr. Vichea's family as well as all workers in Cambodia and to leaders of the country's trade union movement and other social partners.

The ILO said it will contact Cambodia's authorities to "request information concerning the investigation that we trust will be launched to identify the murderers and bring them to justice".

The ILO has a number of projects in Cambodia, one of which is aimed specifically at improving working conditions in garment factories located in Cambodia which produce apparel for sale in North America, Europe and other developed countries. A series of ILO independent monitoring reports over the past years has found significant improvements in working conditions. The ILO monitoring and capacity building in the garment sector has been done under a technical cooperation project established following an agreement signed in January 1999 by the governments of Cambodia and the United States and amended on 31 December 2001.