More disappointing news of workers being cheated, mistreated, and abused by Walmart suppliers has surfaced, this time in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. There, workers from an undergarment factory that supplies to retailers such as H&M and Walmart have been keeping vigil outside their workplace, Kingsland Garment. Why? Because on Dec. 29th, without warning, managers shuttered up the factory and fled, knowing full well that they owe the workers hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid wages and benefits.

The garment workers wait, ready to confront any management that may return to gather equipment. They believe the motive for the abrupt move by the management is a plot to shed long-time employees, and then re-open, in order to avoid paying for the benefits of workers who have seniority.

Without their pay and without work, many of the workers cannot afford rent, and have been evicted.

This scheme is not new.  Many other suppliers for Walmart and other large retail chains employ these tactics to take advantage of temporary workers, and to make unionization and job benefits for workers virtually impossible.

To support the workers who have come together to demand what they are owed, Warehouse Workers United and other organizations are calling on Walmart to force the supplier to pay the workers their severance.  A corporation as powerful and wealthy as Walmart should not wait around for outside organizations to tell them to do what is right- they should simply do it.  How many more factory, garment, and warehouse workers will be mistreated before Walmart holds its suppliers accountable, or prevents such things from happening? Whether the offense is dangerous working conditions or unfair wages, Walmart needs to be more responsible and help create better jobs for the countless workers that help make Walmart the powerful business that it is.

Click here for more information, and watch the video of the Cambodian garment workers below: