Cambodia's garment sector conditions fall since 2011: BFC

19 Jul '13

2 min read

Conditions in Cambodian garment factories have been declining in several key areas since 2011, according to a latest report.

Improvements are not being made in key areas of working conditions, including fire safety, child labor, and workers’ safety and health, states the 30th Synthesis Report released by the International Labour Organization’s Better Factories Cambodia program (BFC).

The report compares its most recent data on garment sector conditions in Cambodia with the data collected over the past eight years and finds that conditions have been declining in several key areas since 2011.

The data shows that following steady improvement in working conditions from 2005 to 2011, conditions are now declining in Cambodian apparel units.

“Some of the non-compliance may be attributed to the industry’s rapid growth since 2011. Still, all stakeholders need to take stronger steps to halt the downward trend. If not, Cambodia runs the risk of forfeiting the advantages that accrue to a reputation for decent working conditions” said Jill Tucker, Chief Technical Advisor of ILO-Better Factories Cambodia, in a press release.

“While 25 percent of the factories featured in the report are new, having had only one assessment, more than half have been monitored by the BFC at least five times. These factories have had many opportunities to correct areas of non-compliance,” she adds.

The report mentions non-compliance in areas related to the industry’s fainting problem. It also says issues related to workers’ health and safety remain significant.

The report also notes that all the 40 strikes that took place during the reporting period failed to comply with all legal requirements.

However, the report documents some improvements involving the proper payment of wages and benefits.

The compliance data for the report was collected between November 1, 2012 and April 30, 2013. During this six-month period, BFC produced monitoring reports for 152 garment factories and three footwear factories.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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