Cambodian labour rights in Dutch TV series

EO and IKON are broadcasting a television series around the theme of human rights. Mirjam Sterk, a former MP and currently Ambassador for Tackling Youth Unemployment, will be presenting the series. She will also be examining union and labour rights in the Cambodian clothing sector. The series is broadcast weekly from Wednesday 6th November on the Nederland 2 channel at 8:30pm in the run-up to International Human Rights Day on 10th December. One of Mirjam’s destinations in the series will be the C.CAWDU, one of CNV Internationaal’s Cambodian partners. “Trade unions are still exposed to great risks,” she says. “The Chair of C.CAWDU has been threatened multiple times and union members have been murdered in the past. Members and campaigners are constantly in fear for their jobs.”

One of the people Sterk met in Cambodia was 25-year-old Prom Sophea. She lives in a small village just outside the capital city of Phnom Penh and works very long days as a seamstress in a clothing factory.

She joined the union five years ago. “I realised there was a lot of injustice on the work floor,” she explains. “And I could see the C.CAWDU union’s dedication to our interests. I couldn’t just stand by any more. I’ve since become an active union official – if anything needs arranging or organising, I’m at the front of the queue!” Mirjam Sterk launches consumer action towards brands
Mirjam Sterk and CNV Internationaal are taking action together to raise awareness on Dutch brands and consumers. The episode centred around the work of unions in Cambodia  on Wednesday 13th November on Nederland 2 at 8:30pm.

• The action website of the TV series www.jijbentsterk.nu
  (scroll to the emission on Cambodia, 13 november)
  
  
• To see the emission of 13th November