The Human Rights Watch interviewed 270 garment workers in
Cambodia and concluded that Cambodian women faced numerous human rights abuses
while working in the garment factories. While it is mostly women in the
factories, the Human Rights Watch found 11 factories that used child labor and
were in violation of local and international laws. In Cambodia, children under
18 can only engage in light work and for no more than 8 hours a day. The
children get paid less than the minimum wage of $80 a month and some were
missing school to help their families. The garment industry generates more than
$5.7 billion U.S. dollars a year in global exports. The Cambodian women work
long hours for little pay in suboptimal conditions. They are sometimes refused
bathroom breaks, get no sick leave, and suffer sexual abuse from their male
bosses. The workers complained that they were only paid $80 U.S. dollars and
did not receive overtime pay for their long hours of work.
Many big
name brands use these kinds of factories to make their clothes. Some of those
brands include Gap and Nike, however they were reluctant to disclose this
information because that would allow Cambodian government officials to inspect
the factories. I feel as though these factories should be inspected monthly,
maybe even weekly, to ensure the workers are being treated fairly. These brands
should protect the workers rights through all the supply chains but it rarely
happens. The workers need to be treated fairly, giving them the necessary breaks
for the length of time they work. There is no reason that any of them need to
be treated this poorly.
Emily Burris
2:45 pm
03/27/2015
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