Monitor, GMAC at odds over plan

The head of the Better Factories Cambodia (BFC) program said yesterday that consultations on its new public-disclosure initiative have been going on for more than a year, contrary to claims by a garment factory representative who characterised the process as hasty.

Jill Tucker, chief technical adviser for the UN-backed BFC, which is part of the International Labour Organization, said an earlier version of the plan was discussed with the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia’s secretary-general Ken Loo and government officials in September.

Subsequent meetings were then held with GMAC board members in February and July this year. During the latter, Tucker said, GMAC “clearly stated their opposition to transparency”. …

On September 23, BFC announced plans to resume publicly disclosing reports on the labour standards at garment factories. The quarterly reports, due out in January, will be based on inspections beginning this month. …

Daniel de Carteret and May Kunmakara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/monitor-gmac-odds-over-plan