Source: fibre2fashion
The Royal Government of Cambodia (ministry of commerce and ministry of labour), the Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia and International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Better Factories Cambodia (BFC) programme have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to improve working conditions and boost competitiveness in the country’s garment industry.
The MoU has been signed to extend the partnership for three years, covering a period from January 2017 to December 2019, during which the partners will collaborate to work together to build the institutional sustainability of the programme.
Cambodia has agreed to contribute approximately 25 per cent to the BFC budget over the next three years, while international garment buyers sourcing from Cambodia who use the ILO BFC programme assessment reports and factories that participate in BFC training courses will contribute to programme operation based on fees for services rendered.
The BFC program will continue to assess working conditions in garment factories based on Cambodian labour law and internationally recognised core labour standards, and to report on its findings publicly by detailing compliance and non-compliance of individual factories. BFC will also work with the ministry of labour to implement a joint strategy and action plan with the objective to support government’s capacity and ownership to uphold compliance with labour law and make necessary changes in the garment sector.
“BFC has played a key role in the growth of the industry and the improvement of working conditions. Under the new MoU, BFC and the ministry of labour and vocational training (MOLVT) would step up collaboration on workplace inspection and enforcement of the labour law,” said Ith Sam Heng, minister, MOLVT, Cambodia.
“The new MoU will see our continued financial support and increased collaboration with our partners, including the transfer of knowledge on labour inspection to officials of the MOLVT to ensure we keep abreast of current and future opportunities and challenges in the sector,” said Pan Sorasak, minister of commerce, Cambodia.
BFC is part of the Better Work Program, a collaboration between the ILO and the International Finance Corporation, which operates across three continents to catalyse change along global supply chains in the garment industry, the work of BFC will be an integral part, in the recently signed, Cambodia Decent Work Country Programme.
The MoU has been renewed five times by the parties since the ILO BFC programme began in 2001. (KD)
