From what I can understand of this somewhat confusing situation is an
American-owned toy factory employing almost entirely women, was fast
approaching bankruptcy. Strikes and worker discontent had been
building for months and the factory had lost investor confidence due
to defective orders. Unfortunately the managers never told the
workers the factory was closing, and on closing day forced them to 'thumbprint resignation letters they had not written, a plan they
feared could deny them severance pay.' Backwages and some severance
was eventually paid to those who agreed to resign, but the real
problem here is the idea of resigning from a factory that isn't
operational. I don't know too much about how businesses pay employees
in the event of bankruptcy, but I'm positive it's not a simple case
of backwages, a portion of severance, and having them quit. It seems to me the factory
management was seeking some way to cut and run with the least amount
of money invested. In Cambodia it's very easy to take advantage of
workers lack of rights, especially when your employees are women in a
country where women are extremely precariously situated in terms of
labor rights and avenues of appeal.
Brad Holes, owner and CEO of the company managing the factory, you
are a bad man. These are people's lives you're trying to cheat.
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