The industry experts feel that European Union’s (EU) decision to revoke duty-free benefits to Cambodia could keep major apparel brands out of the country.
This would significantly worsen the conditions of the garment workers and also affect the economy of the nation.
Cambodia has only 6 months to convince EU that it no longer has any human rights concerns failing which EU will impose the Everything But Arms or EBA trade scheme.
If this happens, it will be a blemish in Cambodia’s fight for improved working conditions for garment workers.
The garment workers in Cambodia have often been compelled to work overtime and even not allowed to form trade unions. However, in recent years a lot of advocacy groups have been running campaigns that have forced international brands to clean up supply chains in the country.
“The brands are the ones who have the power to push employers to respect the law and the rights of workers,” averred At Thon, President, Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers’ Democratic Union.
At Thon added that if Cambodia loses EU, then the Better Factories Cambodia (BFC) initiative to improve the conditions and wages of workers could become redundant.
