03 March 2016•Update: 04 March 2016
By Lauren Crothers
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia
A man was killed and 34 people injured when a garment van was involved in a multi-vehicle crash in southwest Cambodia, highlighting yet again one of the greatest risks to workers in the country’s biggest industry.
The Cambodia Daily reported Thursday that the collision happened at high speed on a national road in Preah Sihanouk province when a container truck swerved to avoid an earlier crash between two other trucks.
In the ensuing melee, the container truck hit the van stuffed with garment workers.
The 55-year-old man driving the van died from his injuries, while the three other drivers fled the scene.
Labor Ministry spokesperson Heng Suor released a statement Wednesday saying that three of the injured had been sent to a hospital in Phnom Penh.
Although Cambodia’s $5.7-billion garment industry has grown over the past few years – alongside the unsafe transport of workers – crashes have become emblematic of a sector whose approximately 700,000 workers earn a $128 minimum wage.
In January, five factory workers were killed and at least 65 injured in a road collision in Kompong Speu province.
William Conklin, Cambodia country director of the United States-based Solidarity Center, told Anadolu Agency Thursday that government promises to check that drivers held licenses were not addressing the wider issue.
“These accidents happen because other vehicles are not obeying the traffic laws,” he said.
“It’s about trying to enforce road safety throughout… it’s about training all drivers. And maybe in the interim, there have to be alternative forms of transport provided.”
Conklin added that there is also a need to “centralize the responsibility and accountability”, and that “somehow, brands and manufacturers have to step in”.
“Could the brands provide insurance for their workers in case of an accident?" There needs to be an incentive.”
