At the beginning of March 2020, when COVID-19 began to impact global supply chains, the Hulu factory in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, suspended its entire workforce of 1,020 workers.

As the end of the suspension period neared, management called workers in and told them on April 22nd that, due to the pandemic, the factory had no orders and may need to lay off workers. Management also told workers to “sign” a document with their thumbprint in order to receive their suspension pay (only 40% of their regular monthly wage) and unused annual leave, explaining: “you have to sign; otherwise, we cannot wire your money.”

Hundreds of Hulu Garment workers signed the document that day, without realising that hidden under their payslip was a line stating they were resigning. The day after, when it became clear to the workers that their employer had hoodwinked them into signing resignation letters in order to avoid paying severance, more than 300 workers protested to demand reinstatement, and they continued to rally throughout the week. A month later, the factory reopened, but only half of the workforce was rehired.

Years later, 500 workers continue to demand payment of the over US$1 million in severance they would be legally owed if they had been fired, because they had been scammed and had not voluntarily resigned.