PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Two separate traffic accidents in Cambodia on Saturday killed at least 14 garment factory workers and injured 79 others, mostly women.The garment sector is Cambodia’s main export earner, with low labor costs being its competitive advantage. Salaries, including overtime, generally amount to $200-300 a month.The first incident occurred in the province of Kampong Chhnang, approximately 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of the capital, Phnom Penh, when a heavy cargo truck crashed into an open-top truck transporting workers to their factory. Nine people were killed and 44 injured, according to a statement issued by the Labor Ministry. The second crash occurred in the southeastern province of Svay Rieng, one of Cambodia’s main garment-factory hubs. A bus carrying workers veered off the road and overturned, killing five and injuring 35 others.
Flatbed trucks are the usual method of transportation available for workers. They often lack seats or benches, forcing passengers to stand, significantly increasing the risk of injury or death.The Labor Ministry statement said 74 of the 93 crash victims were female, roughly matching the proportion of women in the garment sector workforce. Labor Minister Heng Sour said in a speech for International Women’s Day in March that about 80% of Cambodia’s garment workers are female.
