[5] In July of that year, a representative of CATU was beaten bloody by police when he and workers of Tai Yang garment factory attempted to march to the residence of Hun Sen to deliver a petition of demands.
The company filed complaints against them and the Ministry of the Interior questioned six union representatives in January and demanded the payment of $100,000 in compensations to the factory owners.
[13] CATU president Cheang Thida was among 11 union leaders arrested on January 21 while attempting to deliver a petition to the embassies of the US and France in Phnom Penh.
[15] Labour minister Ith Sam Heng said the unions should stop protests since they were of no benefit, while GMAC took out advertisements questioning the right to strike.
[16] In March, unions including CATU again led a general strike demanding a raise of the minimum pay.
[18] Later that year, CATU president Yang Sophorn was prohibited from meeting with other union leaders or attending demonstrations while awaiting trial for alleged violence during protests in January.
[19] In October 2016, CATU expressed concerns with the new trade union law passed in May, saying it had faced problems with registering new affiliations and restrictions with assisting workers.
[20] In December of that year, CATU took part in protests demanding the adoption of ILO Conventions 183 and 189, regarding maternity protection and the rights of domestic workers, respectively.