Covid-19 Awareness and Proventive Measures in Manufacturing Sector

Nokor Khmer

 

Phnom Penh (24 Oct. 2020): Cambodia is not an isolated country in the globe that could escape from the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.  As of October 24, 2020, Cambodia has 287 cases with 283 recovered and zero death comparing to the world total of 42.1 million cases and 28.5 million recovered. The total worldwide death number was 1.14 million.

Below is the collection of policies, strategies, researches, and activities done in Cambodia to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 in the garment, footwear, and travel good sectors.

I. Strategies,  Policies, and Statements

II. Reports, News Article, and Practices.

Mitigating the risk of COVID-19 in Cambodia’s most important industry with health and safety campaign targeting factory workers 

As part of the global fight against COVID-19, AIP Foundation partnered with Solidarity Center and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to produce nearly 500 posters and 1,500 banners that promoted World Health Organization (WHO) approved methods to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 in Cambodian garment factories. These materials were placed within 200 factories and on collective transport vehicles, which provide the mode of daily transport for many workers.

Building on AIP Foundation’s existing relationships with factories involved with the Commuting Safety for Cambodian Workers (CSCW) program, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and in collaboration with Better Factories Cambodia and brands who participate in the Transportation Working Group, the COVID-19 health and safety campaign aligns the efforts of reducing potential transmission of disease and improving factory hygiene practices with overall greater factory workers’ safety and wellbeing.

According to Amcham Cambodia, Cambodia’s garment and footwear sector has been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, with an 80 percent drop of exports in the first quarter of 2020, and predicted to plummet a further 50 – 60 percent in the second quarter. The beleaguered industry has stopped production in 256 factories, affecting more than 130,000 workers and their families.

In full: https://www.aip-foundation.org/mitigating-the-risk-of-covid-19-in-cambodias-most-important-industry-with-health-and-safety-campaign-targeting-factory-workers/

Industry Update/National Response

• The government has paid $60-$100 million to suspended workers as of 10 June. MoLVT has allocated $60-$100 million for suspended workers and retraining programmes as part of its COVID-19 stimulus plan. Ministry spokesperson Heng Sour said 87,647 workers have become unemployed following the closure of 199 factories. From 14 February to 9 June, 324 factories employing 193,924 workers suspended operations for 14-60 days. As of mid-June, 50% of employees have returned to work. In the first round of subsidies, 33,231 workers from 111 factories received compensation, followed by 25,588 (67 factories) in the 2nd round and 49,960 (165 factories) in the 3rd. Last month, the government said over 17,000 suspended workers in the garment and tourism sectors had been identified for subsidies in the 4th round.
• The EU announced that $503 million in economic and job aid will be given in grants and loans to help Cambodia fight COVID-19 and mitigate its socio-economic impacts. Cambodia’s Minister of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation said the government was committed to implementing existing social protection programmes like providing cash to poor families.

In full: https://betterwork.org/2020/04/15/cambodia/

 

Unions urge ministry to reverse seniority indemnity payments delays

Camboja News, 22 June 2020

The petition, signed by 14 unions including CUMW, CCAWDU, Cambodian Labor Confederation, and Cambodian Trade Union Federation urged Labor Minister Ith Samheng to consider pushing employers to provide seniority indemnity payments on time for 2019 and 2020. The ministry normally requires the payments to be made biannually in June and December.

“Workers are dealing with increased financial burdens including monthly loan payments, treatment expenses for sick family members, as well as daily living expenses,” the petition said.

Although the ministry’s June 2 statement allows seniority indemnity payments to be delayed until 2021, it does require employers to make the payments in cases where a worker has either resigned or been laid-off.

In full: https://cambojanews.com/unions-urge-ministry-to-reverse-severance-payment-delays/

 

 

III. Others

To be updated.