May 17, 2013
Phnom Penh - The Japanese athletics brand ASICS
said Friday that it would push its four Cambodian sub-contractors to
join a programme that monitors conditions in garment and shoe factories.
The statement followed an accident Thursday at the Wing Star Shoes
factory south-west of Phnom Penh, which killed two workers and injured
11 when a section of concrete ceiling collapsed.
"We will strongly request to our sub-contractors in Cambodia to sign up
to this programme," Katsumi Funakoshi, ASICS spokesman, said by email.
The Better Factories Cambodia programme, which is voluntary, was set up
in 2001 and is run by the International Labour Organization. It
monitors factories making clothing and shoes for export to ensure they
comply with a range of issues, such as fire safety, working conditions
and prompt payment of wages.
Thursday’s accident showed the programme should also monitor factory
construction, its chief technical adviser, Jill Tucker, said.
She said the programme had good relations with 40 international brands
but stressed that all were from Europe, the United States and Canada.
She called on the hundreds of buyers from other countries that source
from Cambodia, including Japan, to take responsibility for the factories
where their products were made and join the initiative.
Thursday’s accident at Wing Star, which employs 7,000 workers and is
one of the biggest factories in the country, was blamed on shoddy
construction.//DPA
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