Textile factory blues

Bun Chhineda sits with her parents and siblings in front of a small wooden house. She lives between the city of Svay Rieng and Bavet, an industrial zone located near the border with Vietnam.

The 21-year-old sits here everyday now, having not been able to work since she was shot in the back while demonstrating for better working conditions.

"I used to sew shoes. It was hard work. But I can't do it anymore," she explains.

She used to work at Kaoway Sports where 1,000 women are employed. They earn 66 US (50 euros) dollars per month and wanted better pay, better working conditions and better food.

"We demanded overtime pay," explains Keo Nethg, who lives around a kilometer away from Bun Chhineda. "In the end, it would have been around five dollars more. And the food was so bad that we wanted to get money for food."

Keo Nethg is also sitting with her family in front of her house. Barking dogs can be heard close-by.

The 18-year-old was also shot. She reveals a bullet wound on her arm. It is healing slowly but she expects to return to work soon - her entire family depends on her wages.

Organized

The women at the industrial zone of Bavet are proud of the fact that they organized themselves. Chea Mony from Cambodia's largest union, the "Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia" says they have achieved a great deal.

"I went to Bavet one afternoon to see for myself. Unions were banned there. The protests were all organized by the women themselves."

Goods for numerous Western companies, including German sports apparel company Puma and the Swedish clothing brand H&M, are manufactured in Cambodia's textile factories.

The protests, shootings and their coverage in the Western media have put pressure on these companies to look into the horrific working conditions. They called for a state investigation into the shootings.

There is a video that allegedly implicates a former provincial governor in the shootings, which could be used as evidence against him if the case comes to trial but so far there are no signs of this.

Shot by accident

Whereas employees at Kaoway Sports get 66 US dollars, workers at Evergreen Garment Company in Phnom Pehn receive about 69 dollars per month.

Son Chay, an MP for the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, says this is barely enough to live on. "It has to at least be possible to feed a family on these wages," he says. "We are not talking about luxury here. Many workers eat very little and very poorly in order to save money, which they can pass on to their families."

For Chea Mony, monthly wages have to double. "The first step is getting the women monthly wages of 130 dollars. Then we have to work on fighting corruption - that would save a lot of money - extra money for the workers."

As she sits with her parents, Bun Chhineda smiles - despite her pain. "I didn't even want to demonstrate. I was just on my way to the toilet when I was shot in the back."

When asked where she would like to work if she ever can again, she smiles again and says she will go back to the factory - "Where else?"

Author: Udo Schmidt / sb
Editor: Anne Thomas