Officials Move to Bring Unruly Garment Subcontractors in Line

Citing a government investigation that revealed factories colluding with unlicensed subcontractors to use unethical labor sources including prisoners, Minister of Commerce Cham Prasidh has asked the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia to urge adherence to labor law. Rehabilitation programs meant to teach vocational skills such as sewing had been co-opeted by subcontractors, who then sold the finished products back to buyers, Mr Pasidh explained. Under the ministry’s new protocol, every subcontract agreement must be reported to the government, and only members of GMAC are permitted to hire subcontractors.