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Worked to debt: Over-indebtedness in Cambodia's garment sector

This​ joint​ briefing​ paper​ is​ made​ under​ the​ Cambodian​ Alliance​ of​ Trade​ Union​ (CATU),​ Center​ for​ Alliance​ of​ Labor​ and​ Human​ Rights​ (CENTRAL),​ and​ Cambodian​ Leauge​ for​ the​ Promotion​ and​ Defense​ of​ Human​ Rights​ (LICADHO).​ Results​ of​ this​ research​ are​ from​ a​ survey​ of​ 162​ garment​ workers​ (158​ women)​ between​ March​ and​ May​ 2020.​ Workers​ came​ from​ three​ different​ factories​ that​ have​ partially​ or​ fully​ suspended​ work.​ Researchers​ found​ that​ two-thirds​ of​ workers​ were​ paying​ off​ at​ least​ one​ microloan,​ and​ that​ these​ repayments​ took​ up​ the​ majority​ of​ their​ pre-suspension​ incomes.​ On​ average,​ the​ combined​ monthly​ payments​ for​ debt​ and​ food​ expenses​ exceeded​ workers’​ salaries,​ resulting​ in​ the​ vast​ majority​ of​ microloan​ borrowers​ eating​ less​ food​ to​ be​ able​ to​ repay.​ 96%​ of​ respondents​ who​ held​ microloans​ said​ their​ life​ was​ either​ “much​ worse”​ (80%)​ or​ “slightly​ worse”​ (16%)​ now​ compared​ to​ before​ taking​ out​ their​ microloan.​ Just​ 2%​ reported​ their​ life​ was​ “slightly​ better”,​ and​ none​ said​ it​ was​ “much​ better”.

Data Resources (2)

Data Resource Preview - Worked​ to​ debt:​ Over-indebtedness​ in​ Cambodia's​ garment​ sector (Khmer)

Additional Info

Field Value
Document type Reports, journal articles, and research papers (including theses and dissertations)
Language of document
  • English
  • Khmer
Short title (alternative/varying form of title) Worked to debt: Over-indebtedness in Cambodia's garment sector
Topics
  • Economic social and cultural rights
  • Economy and commerce
  • Garments and textiles
  • Human rights
Geographic area (spatial range)
  • Cambodia
Copyright Yes
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Version / Edition 1
License Creative Commons Attribution
Contact

Cambodian​ Leauge​ for​ the​ Promotion​ and​ Defense​ of​ Human​ Rights​ (LICADHO)

Address: #16, St. 99, Boeung Trabek, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Mailing Address: P.O. Box 499, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Tel: (855) 23 727 102 or (855) 23 216 602 Fax: (855) 23 727 102 or (855) 23 217 626 E-mail: contact@licadho-cambodia.org Website: https://www.licadho-cambodia.org

Co-author (coorporate) Cambodian​ Alliance​ of​ Trade​ Union​ (CATU),​ Center​ for​ Alliance​ of​ Labor​ and​ Human​ Rights​ (CENTRAL),​ and​ Cambodian​ Leauge​ for​ the​ Promotion​ and​ Defense​ of​ Human​ Rights​ (LICADHO)
Publication place Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Publisher Cambodian​ Leauge​ for​ the​ Promotion​ and​ Defense​ of​ Human​ Rights​ (LICADHO)
Publication date 2020
Pagination 1-13
Legacy reference document Worked_to_debt_Cambodia's_garment_sector__30.06.2020.pdf
Keywords Garment workers' debt
Date uploaded July 6, 2020, 10:01 (UTC)
Date modified July 7, 2020, 09:31 (UTC)