As Phnom Penh’s buildings rise, safety scales back
Vatha, a 42-year-old construction worker, has been toiling for four years at numerous building sites across Phnom Penh. He knocks down dilapidated dwellings and in their place builds houses and apartments that are bigger, better – and increasingly higher – as demand for residential property, especially rentals, surges. It’s a dangerous job, Vatha says – especially without any protective gear. “I don’t have any safety equipment when I work,” the father of three says, adding that he works at great heights, is often exposed to falling debris and uses power equipment daily. “My boss just tells me to be careful.” In four years, Vatha has never had a pay increase. In fact, he has never even had a contract. …
