Cambodia’s new Prime Minister, Hun Manet, met with 18,000 garment workers at Khan Por Sen Chey to share government policies on improving the living standards of garment workers.

“[Factory] food courts should be enhanced to ensure better service and food to garment workers. The improvement is beneficial to employers and workers,” he said this morning, in his first-ever gathering with garment workers.

Manet stressed that only when factory food courts are improved, the health of workers can improve, and that would result in higher productivity.

Addressing the issue of garment workers’ transportation, he said studies must be conducted to help form policies that can ensure the safety of workers by 2027.

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In that, he rejected the suggestion of using city buses to transport garment workers on the basis that it would affect the livelihood of taxi drivers.

“The interest of all stakeholders should be taken into consideration,” he asserted.

The transportation of garment workers in Cambodia has been a major concern of workers’ safety and welfare for some time now.

Workers are often seen crammed beyond the alleged permitted capacity of factory vehicles, with road accidents involving these vehicles resulting in high fatalities and injuries.

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“One car might only have the capacity to transport 20 people, but in practice 50 garment workers are crammed into it,” Manet said.

With such a condition the commute is not only uncomfortable but also undermines their safety.

Manet emphasised that it was important to have a clear action plan for the successful implementation of policies.

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