Newly opened factories help jobless garment workers

30 May '09

2 min read

As per the data from the Ministry of Labour, in the first quarter of the current year, about nineteen garment factories garment factories opened on the outskirts of the capital, Phnom Penh.

Secretary of State at the Ministry of Labour, Mr. Oum Mean welcomed these newly opened factories as they helped to create jobs for the workers who lost their jobs due to the closure of their previous places of employment.

According to official figures, he said that these 19 factories have provided jobs to 6,069 people which would offset the closure of 46 garment factories to some extent that led to the loss of 21,400 jobs in the first three months of this year.

A labour affairs official for the Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia (GMAC) Mr. Cheath Khemara predicted that the present condition of the garment sector would continue indefinitely, despite the opening of these 19 factories as attracting new factories to the country in current situation is quite difficult, he added, blaming labour strikes for scaring off investors.

A General Manager of one of the factories that reopened informed that he will provide 1,600 jobs this year and said that due to the current uncertainty the future of the sector is unpredictable.

Minister of Commerce Mr. Cham Prasidh revealed that this year's garment exports are down compared to the last year. Further he said that the exports done during the peak season will determine how 2009 compares with previous years.

The Minister expects that the garment exports would be same as that of last year, since maximum orders are received in the summer months of May and June.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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