GMAC urges EU to restore full EBA rights for Cambodia

24 Feb '20

1 min read

Pic: Shutterstock

Expressing disappointment over the recent European Union (EU) decision to partially suspend the ‘Everything But Arms’ (EBA) trade programme for Cambodia, the Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia (GMAC) recently urged the European Commission (EC) to reinstate the country’s full EBA rights. The decision will especially affect women workers, it said.

“We urge the EC and members of the European Parliament to reconsider their decision by taking into account the values and goals that the programme was based on when it was put in place nearly 20 years ago: development assistance, poverty reduction and the dignity of employment,” a statement by GMAC said.

GMAC noted employment in the garment sectors supported by EBA trade preferences exceeds 750,000 and this has lifted millions of Cambodians out of poverty.

“We urge the EU to act quickly to restore full EBA benefits for our sectors for the sake of sustainable development and for the hundreds of thousands of Cambodians who have risen from poverty,” the statement released to a Cambodian newspaper added.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

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