Poor Working Conditions in Cambodia Resulting in Mass Faintings - Essay Example

In the year 2011, approximately 1,000 workers fainted in factories that were owned by South Koreans, Taiwanese, and Chinese. Despite mass protests, the situation is quite critical as well as tricky. It is a booming industry in Cambodia that garners revenue of around $5 billion and provides employment opportunities to 600,000 people mostly from the lower economic class. The pay is extremely meager with less than $100 per month and this compels many of them to work overtime for extra earnings. Workers from garment factories have been vocal with their complaints regarding their poor working conditions but mostly there have been no positive remedies. Illness is another factor that causes grievance among workers, but any kind of strike is suppressed by violence from the authorities. For instance, in January this year, police fired to control crowds during a strike resulting in the death of five workers. For April 17, workers are again preparing for a strike and this time they will demand to increase monthly wages from $100 to $160 (Powell).

      Now the tricky part is where the solution lies. It is no doubt that the Cambodian economy is to a large extent thriving on foreign investments. Since the beginning of the global recession in 2008, Cambodia has experienced high economic development in the initial two years all thanks to foreign investments, a flourishing tourism industry, and a thriving agricultural industry. According to Stephen Higgins, chief executive officer for ANZ Royal Bank in Phnom Penh, “The Cambodian economy is probably in the best shape it has ever been in” (Corben).

Reply

      Workers are a major factor in any industry, and it is their labor and endurance that provides for the economy of a country. Hence, it is a tragedy that not only in Cambodia but in many developing countries the situation is almost the same. Poor working condition is part and parcel of jobs for the working class in addition to low wages. Such meager wages induce workers to do overtime as a result of which they remain exposed to poisonous gases and humidity for longer hours. The situation is even graver since the working class is mostly unaware of the technical means of implementing health and safety measures. Providing safety measures to workers is a challenge that needs to be overcome by combining all strategies for health improvement and environmental development. The need is to launch training programs in factories to create awareness about hazardous chemicals and also to increase awareness about health safety measures.