Thousands of striking garment workers are set to return to work today, as more than two weeks of demonstrations at one of Asia’s largest garment factories come to a close.

Meas Sotha, a shareholder at SL Garment Processing (Cambodia) Ltd, and Kong Athit, vice president of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union (C.CAWDU), which represents SL employees, yesterday confirmed that the 6,000 workers intended to return to their posts.

Striking began on August 12, as workers demanded that SL remove military police standing guard inside the factory and cut all ties with Sotha, the man who hired them.

The workers’ return to work comes after a meeting between C.CAWDU, SL management and the Phnom Penh municipal government, during which government officials ordered SL to cut ties with Sotha, Athit said.

Sotha yesterday evening said he had not received any information about his alleged dismissal. Officials from City Hall could not be reached.