CCHR releases a Policy Brief on Garment Industry in Cambodia

CCHR releases a Policy Brief on the garment industry in Cambodia outlining the current state of human rights in the industry and offering recommendations for reform

The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (“CCHR”) releases today – 19 January 2014 – a Policy Brief on the Garment Industry in the Kingdom of Cambodia (“Cambodia”). In light of growing human rights concerns with regards to the garment industry, the Policy Brief collates data gathered by CCHR’s researchers and offers concrete policy and legislative recommendations for reforms to all stakeholders, which would substantially improve the situation.

Despite a relatively protective legal and policy framework and several national-level policies, labor rights continue to be violated with alarming frequency throughout the Cambodian garment industry. The Cambodian garment industry is now plagued with a myriad of human rights concerns. 2014 has already seen widespread protests by garment workers demanding a fair wage, which were met with extreme police violence that resulted in five deaths and dozens of injuries. Efforts to silence garment workers did not stop with the use of force but has continued with union members fired as a punishment for striking.

The Policy Brief provides a background to the Cambodian garment industry, as well as an overview of the human rights concerns related to the garment industry in Cambodia, including workplace conditions, wages and living conditions, contracts and job security, reproductive and maternal health, gender-based violence and freedom of association. Furthermore, it reviews the domestic and international legal framework related to labor and collective bargaining rights.

The Policy Brief concludes by offering recommendations to the relevant stakeholders: the RGC, garment factories operating in Cambodia, companies buying garments from those factories, unions and civil society. These recommendations encompass various strategies and mechanisms for increasing the legal protections for garment workers, which would help to address the human rights concerns and legislative inconsistencies and gaps highlighted throughout the Policy Brief.

CCHR Business and Human Rights Project Coordinator Duch Piseth Comments:

“If the past two weeks show us anything, is that urgent action is required. More violence will not solve the problems currently plaguing the garment industry but will only add fuel to the fire. Now more than ever, it is necessary for all stakeholders to work together to come up with concrete solutions and for companies operating in Cambodia to prioritize human rights in their operations. The lack of respect for human rights within the Cambodian garment sector have already had more negative economic and political impacts than strikes will ever have, and, without concrete efforts to adhere to human rights standards, Cambodia risks losing its place at the forefront of the garment producing industry – which would have widespread consequences for all Cambodians.”

For more information, please contact Mr. Piseth Duch via telephone at +855 (0) 12 71 23 71 or e-mail at duchpiseth@cchrcambodia.org or CCHR Consultant Juliette Rousselot via telephone at+855 (0) 1535 0620 or e-mail at julietterousselot@cchrcambodia.org.

Please kindly find the attached press releases and policy brief in Khmer and English accordingly.