PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – The
International Labour Organization (ILO), the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry
of Labour and Vocational Training, and the Garment Manufacturers Association in
Cambodia (GMAC) signed a new Memorandum of Understanding yesterday for its
Better Factories Cambodia programme that aims to consolidate improvements in
working conditions and competitiveness in Cambodia’s garment
industry.
The new three-year MOU
emphasizes improvements in the garment industry, including expanded data-sharing
with the Royal Government of Cambodia detailing compliance and non-compliance of
individual factories with Cambodia labour law and internationally recognized
core labour standards. The agreement also promotes the enforcement role of the
Royal Government of Cambodia and acknowledges the re-introduction of public
disclosure as mechanisms to help make significant and sustainable improvements
across the industry.
The agreement increases
financial support from GMAC and the government for the programme that follows
economic trends in the Cambodian garment industry.
Excellency Sun Chanthol,
Senior Minister, Minister of Commerce said: “The signing of the MOU today
reflects the commitment of the Royal Government of Cambodia to work closely with
the ILO and GMAC to ensure that Cambodian labour law and internationally
recognized core labour standards are properly implemented. We want Cambodia to
be the strongest and most socially compliant garment industry in the region and
in the world. We want the “Made in Cambodia brand” to be associated with quality
products made by workers that have their working conditions and rights
respected.”
Excellency Ith Sam Heng,
Minister of Labour and Vocational Training noted that “The Royal Government of
Cambodia has been and will continue to commit to make sure that workers’ right
and labour standards are enforced in order to build a good image of products
made in Cambodia to compete effectively in the world market. We urge the
international buyers to increase their orders from
Cambodia.”
Mr. Van Sou Ieng, President
of the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) said today that
“GMAC fully supports the policy of the Cambodian Government to link trade and
labor compliance and calls on all buyers to also commit to this in practical
terms through an increase in sourcing price and quantity.”
Maurizio Bussi, Officer in Charge of ILO Country Office for Cambodia
noted that the MOU is the result of extensive
consultations
with the Ministries of Labour and Vocational Training, Commerce and the ILO’s
national tripartite partners. “The ILO
looks forward to working constructively with Cambodian constituents and
international partners over the life of the MOU in an area of central importance
to Cambodia as part of the agreed commitment to advance with the effective
implementation of the Decent Work agenda. Sustained coordination and a solid alignment
of all our collaborative efforts will continue to be central to our
work.”
The MOU has been renewed
four times by the parties since the ILO programme began in
2001.
Better Factories Cambodia
is a programme created to help building the economy and competitiveness of
Cambodia through performing assessments on the working conditions in the garment
factories based on Cambodia Labour Law and internationally recognized core
labour standards and its reporting.
For more information please
contact:
Mr. Jason
Judd
Technical Specialist at
ILO-Better Factories Cambodia
Tel:
023 212 847
Email: judd@ilo.org
Mr. Ken
Loo
Secretary
General
Tel: 023 301 181
Email: kenloo@gmac-cambodia.org
Mr. Ken
Ratha
Spokeman for Ministry of
Commerce
Tel: 070 545
527
Email: kenratha_ait@yahoo.com
His Excellency Heng
Sour
Spokeman for Ministry of
Labour and Vocational Training
Tel: 012 693
777
Email: hengsour@yahoo.com
