Ministry of Labour is organising a beauty pageant for garment workers in Cambodia. The government has teamed with the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) and PNN TV for the purpose.
The competition aims to “promote the beauty of the garment sector” and requires participants to be at least 1.58 metres tall (or 1.62 metres for men). The reward for the first place is prize of US$300 – more than double the $140 monthly minimum wage of a garment worker.
Last year, one horrific incident took place in which 18 garment factory workers lost their lives when the van that carried them crashed. Owing to last year’s gruesome incident, the government is also being criticized for again organising such an event.
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In this regard, William Conklin, Country Director at the Solidarity Center, said “The Ministry of Labour is trying to help promote the image of garment workers, but I think that there are other concerns they should concentrate on, such as road transport safety and … fainting in factories.”
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However, Opposition lawmaker and women’s rights activist Mu Sochua said the contest was undignified. “The only contest that should be conducted for the dignity of our garment workers is for the brands to compete on the wages of the workers: ‘Who dares give the workers a living wage’,”
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Meanwhile, the workers are looking at the contest with a different angle where Sous Vanna, 25, said “It is a good chance for garment workers to compete on TV,” Apart from showing off my beauty, I will tell of my life working in a garment factory, so the public can know about our lives. Our life is a struggle in this sector.”
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
