New Law to Force Garment Factories to Provide On-Site Housing

In an effort to stop mass faintings at garment factories, a government committee will issue a prakas this year aimed at reducing fatigue among workers by requiring factories to establish on-site housing, an official said yesterday. Pok Vanthath, deputy director of vocational training at the Ministry of Labor, who is on the committee, said that making rental housing available on the premises would cut down on lengthy commutes contributing to long working days. “Workers have to get up early and they spend many hours transporting themselves to the factory,” he said. “Then they work eight-hour days, sometimes working two hours of overtime. It is harmful to their health and safety.” He also said that the prakas would require factories to provide accessible markets to those living on the premises. …