"More migrants return from Jordan, criticize work conditions", 22 September 2020

As a second group of migrant workers returned from Jordan …, employees of two garment factories there have recounted the strenuous conditions they faced, made worse after Covid-19 forced the companies to suspend operations and cut workers’ pay earlier this year.

Oen Sreyna, a 25-year old migrant worker who is now in self-quarantine in her hometown in Kampong Chhnang province’s Kampong Tralach district, said … that she had gone to work at Camel Textile factory in Al-Karak, Jordan 2.5 years ago. She said she found the job through Cambodia-based Lotus factory, which began a partnership with the Vega and Camel Textile seven years ago.

“My contract was terminated a month before I came back to Cambodia,” Sreyna said, adding that as Covid-19 began spreading in Jordan earlier this year…

A group of 28 Cambodians working at Camel Textile and Vega Textile were never re-employed after the factories suspended operations in March and were repatriated to Cambodia …, having gone months without pay.

… Sreyna said she would not encourage other Cambodians to work in Jordan, as the conditions were unsatisfactory.

“I appeal to all Cambodian workers, please do not try to work there because they order workers to work over the time limit,” Sreyna said. “I think that work there is more difficult than in Cambodia.”…

Khun Tharo, program manager at Central, said sending migrant workers to Jordan without a memorandum of understanding in place between the two countries is illegal…