Just a few days after the RMG (readymade garment) factory workers of Cambodia expressed their concern over low wages, poor standard of living, and forced overtime, the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) has asked the garment workers to increase their productivity. A decline of 14 per cent was observed in the productivity levels in the garment and footwear sector, between 2011 and 2014.
According to GMAC, the increased expenses, combined with poor productivity are a major hurdle to Cambodia in the field of garment manufacturing on a global scale, as compared to countries like Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
“We must contribute in a manner that the garment sector can stand in today’s strongly competitive atmosphere in the world market. As employers, we need to try to contribute as much as possible in building up the skills of the workers,” said Ken Loo, Secretary-General of GMAC.
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In reaction to these statements issued by GMAC, workers’ representatives complained about short-term contracts issued by employers, and firing of pregnant women workers in contravention of the labour law. Mak Chansitha, Director of the Workers’ Information Center informed a local daily that the employers should consider change in the production chain and the health of the workers in order to adjust the declining productivity.
On the other hand, President of the Cambodia Labour Confederation, Ath Thorn expressed optimism regarding investment in Cambodia. “In Burma, there’s requirement of nearly 60 percent of investment capital unlike Cambodia,” he said.
To bring a change in the scenario of the current productivity levels, GMAC is in talks with the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training to launch a campaign, which will employ approximately 700,000 workers of Cambodia.
