Garment workers turn to silk weaving for sustenance
21 Sep '09
1 min read
The global economic turmoil and the recessionary trends witnessed in the last one year, is leading to a trend of reverse migration of workers, who are returning to their hometowns, as jobs become scarcer and wages too are falling.
Since the onset of the recessionary trends, wages have fallen drastically in the apparel sector in the last few months. These workers are now falling back on employment in the traditional Cambodian handicraft industry of silk weaving.
These workers who are now working in silk weaving units are able to draw the same amount of wages offered by garment units, but at the same time are able to save a substantial amount, due to the low standards of living.
For workers, employed in the clothing manufacturing sector, the centuries old silk weaving industry has proved to be a welcome employment option until more well-paying jobs return to the country's factories.