Three unions are conducting lunch-time protests across five provinces, calling on CNRP leader Sam Rainsy to retract a suggestion to the European Parliament that garment exports be used to leverage better human rights in Cambodia.

Two weeks ago, Rainsy told the EU’s Human Rights Subcommittee that diplomacy wasn’t effective in persuading the Cambodian government to address the human rights situation and the bloc could instead threaten to curb garment imports.

Reacting to his statement, three unions – the National Trade Union Coalition (NTUC), Trade Union for Workers and Worker Friendship Union Federation – launched a campaign across five provinces calling on Rainsy to drop the suggestion.

“We do not believe Sam Rainsy even though he has claimed that he did not say this,” said NTUC president Far Sally, adding the protest is apolitical.

Sally said the campaign from July 28 to August 3 included more than a thousand workers across 15 factories who held banners during their lunch time with slogans reading “We need to work for a living” and “Sam Rainsy, you must take back your suggestion”.