The Free Trade Union has asked Labour Minister Ith Samheng to intervene in the case of two union leaders it alleges were illegally fired by Horizon Outdoor (Cambodia), a Kampong Chhnang province bag and accessories factory.

Branch president Sam Chreb and his deputy, Sin Sopheap, were dismissed by the factory on March 30, according to a letter from union deputy secretary Sam Sreymom sent to Ith Samheng on Tuesday.

Sreymom said in the letter that the factory, based in Kampong Tralach district, gave no valid reason for the dismissal and called for the ministry to force the factory to give the pair their jobs back.

Chreb said the company wrongly accused her of sewing 75 trousers incorrectly as a pretext to get rid of her. Horizon could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Labour Ministry department of labour conflict deputy director-general Vong Sovann said he had not yet received the letter.