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| Female garment workers are tended to following one of several fainting incidents at Kampong Chhnang’s M&V factory. Photograph supplied |
Shane Worrell
The Phnom Penh Post
Criticism has mounted against Swedish multinational clothing company H&M in its home country following a documentary released last week that sheds light on wages in its source factories in Cambodia.
The episode of Swedish network TV4’s Kalla Fakta, or Cold Facts, focuses mainly on Cambodian garment workers’ minimum wage of $61 per month before bonuses.
Although this and other conditions mentioned in the program are not revelatory to locals, their exposure to a Swedish audience has had H&M deflecting questions over its indirect treatment of workers in the Kingdom.
In an extended press conference, Karl-Johan Persson, chief executive officer of H&M, which sources from factories including Kampong Chhnang province’s M&V factory, where hundreds fainted in August last year, said his company wanted annual wages for Cambodian garment workers increased.
“We believe in annual revisions of the minimum wages. Of course we want them to be raised and we are prepared for it,” he said.
Recent criticism towards H&M and other big brands in Cambodia is over a minimum wage that is about $200 less than what labour groups consider a “living wage”.
Persson said the concept of a living wage was an issue complicated by the number of buyers in each factory and would not be achieved overnight.
H&M has not spoken to the Cambodian government directly about raising wages, but was actively working on the issue, said Persson.
Europe-based labour rights alliance Clean Clothes Campaign wants H&M to support a union push for a minimum of $131 per month and to map out a timeline for a full living wage.
“Low wages comes at a high cost. Last year, more than 2,400 workers passed out in Cambodian factories due to malnutrition as a direct consequence of low salaries,” CCC spokesman Jeroen Merk said.
The opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party has promised a $150 minimum wage for garment workers if it wins next year’s national election.
Lawmaker and spokeswoman Mu Sochua questioned on Saturday H&M’s and other brands’ dedication to raising wages.
“Until there is global action and movement, these brands will continue to hide behind their heavy PR campaigns,” she said.
5 comments:
Why try dying? If you know you limitation just cut the lost and move on with your life!
This job is for slave and prisoner!
If you Cambodian want to be slave and prisoner and go ahead take the job at your risk!
3:02 PM, what are you talking? Your post is confusing. You are stupid and talking nonsense just like you live in the Communist Regime coming from Communist Vietcong - Thief nation.
To 8:42PM
Why my posting is so confusing to you? Do you want to work until you pass out like a slave or a prisoner? Do you?
Well...these dirt poor Cambodian people are living in desperation under AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave regime! The worst part of it all is that these dirt poor Cambodian don't even have a choice! And every fucken time they demand a living wage and good working condition and AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave send in his police force and military force to crush them! If AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave mother fucker doesn't want to help these dirt poor Cambodian workers and why the Vietcong slave mother fucker want to hurt them? Why force these Cambodian workers to work as slave and prisoner?
Fuck you for not understanding my simple language!
2:36 AM, is it another Yuon/Vietnamese dog eater to another strategy to create a fight among Khmer people? Watch your mouth and don't break Khmer Unity.
If you are Khmer, please think before you say the word "f**k" to your own Khmer people. OK?
Sometimes, your words are harsh with the incorrect grammar so that it is confusing. We don't know what you pointed to whom?
So, you need to just explain instead of saying the word "Fuck" to anyone. Otherwise, you will be regarded as an evil Yuon if you continue to create a fight among Khmer people.
If you are Khmer, we do not want to fight. We are very cautious about Yuon/Vietnamese dog eaters are watching if we fight each other as Khmer people. It depends who is talking. For example, Pi Anh talked very bad about Khmer people and support the evil Yuon/Vietnamese CPP dogs and Hun Sen who are the disasters to Cambodian people and nation.
Thanks for your time to read this
To 7:57AM
Alright no harm is done! I am just fucken pissed off to see these dirt poor Cambodian workers working so hard to the point of pass out just to feed their family! Dirt poor Cambodian people are being transformed into economic animal right before your eye under AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave mother fucker!
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