"Labor Ministry Promises Broader Rights in Garment Sector", 19 October 2017

Labor Minister Ith Samheng has promised garment workers more rights….

“What the Minister of Labor has agreed to ... is so great that it is also linked to political issues that the U.S. urges Cambodia to respect workers rights,” said Pav Sina, president of the Collective Union of Movement of Workers.

He added that several other issues needed to be addressed, such as short-term contracts, the use of which he said was on the rise, the issue of unsafe transport, access to health care services, and factories closing without providing workers compensation.

“What is more important is a transparent inspection from experts in the factories and enterprises. We have to ... adapt standard factory rules, meaning that the working environment must be comfortable with no chemical smells….” he added.

U.S. and E.U. leaders have urged Cambodia to improve garment workers rights following this year’s increase in the minimum wage to $170 per month.