A large number of garment factory workers in Cambodia are fainting on being overwork and harsh factory conditions. The president of one Cambodia’s largest labour unions representing the apparel sector, Ath Thon expressed concern over this matter. Thon, who heads the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers’ Democratic Union, an independent union affiliated with the Cambodian Labor Confederation (CLC), stated that around 100 workers had fainted over the past few days. He added this was because of lack of enough food, physical exhaustion and exposure to chemical odours. Apart from this, he said that the most important reason for their ill-health was the low salary they get.

Scores of workers in garment factories of Kandal, Kampong Seau and Takeo provinces in the south of the nation had fainted in the past few days. This region has the most garment factories in the country. Moreover, more than 100 workers fell seriously ill and many reported feeling unwell.

Thon recommended the government should resolve the issue and suggested improving the minimum wages of the workers, which is currently $128 a month. Besides, he also requested factories to improve their physical work conditions. According to Cambodia’s Ministry of Labor, about 500 factory workers in 11 provinces had fainted between January and June 2015, a dip from the 890 during the same period last year. Meanwhile workers have demanded minimum wages be increased to $177 per month and their work conditions improved.