Protesting unjust employment practices and rude supervisors, hundreds of workers from Bloomsfield (Cambodia) Knitters Ltd travelled to the capital from Kampong Chhnang province to petition the Ministry of Labour, the National Assembly and the German Embassy.

According to Nen Sarorn, an official from the Free Trade Union, the Chinese-owned textile company sells primarily to German clients, though he declined to specify which ones.

Bloomsfield workers demonstrated on Thursday, blocking National Road 5, demanding the company reinstate fired workers, dismiss two abusive administrators, stop unjustly firing workers and provide half- to full-year employment contracts.

Some 500 workers on five trucks attempted to enter Phnom Penh yesterday, but only one was allowed in, Sarorn said.

“More than 60 workers were allowed to bring the petition … Prek Pnov district officials did not allow all of us come into the capital because [of] public disorder,” he said.

Sarorn said all three bodies received the documents, but made no promises as to whether a solution would be found.

Neither company representatives nor the Ministry of Labour could be reached yesterday.