Phnom Penh

In September 2016, the Transportation Working Group was established by Better Factories Cambodia and a group of brands and development partners to address the hazardous effects of the daily commute taken by an estimated 700,000 Cambodian garment and footwear workers.

Since its establishment, the Transportation Working Group has made huge inroads in highlighting road safety in Cambodia, including advocacy and training targeted at workers, factories, drivers and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) of Cambodia.

Over the last few months, COVID-19 has posed new risks and challenges for commuters using collective transportation (trucks, buses and vans), as their daily means of transportation to and from the factory. Through the working group, Better Factories Cambodia have launched a public health campaign informing garment workers and drivers of collective transportation on how to reduce the risk of COVID-19 in the garment, footwear and travel goods sectors.

Posters and banners have been developed and deployed to factories all over the country, so far over 100 factories have received these communication tools, and more continue to be developed and distributed. Messages focus on practical steps workers can take before, during and after they arrive at the factory, and when they arrive home.

Targeted messages have also been developed for drivers of these vehicles, describing best practice in ensuring safety and health of the workers they drive to and from the factory each day, including how vehicles can be cleaned and sanitized to reduce the risks of COVID-19.

Ms. Sara Park, Programme Manager of Better Factories Cambodia, expressed that “it is essential for all of us, including workers, to understand how to protect ourselves from COVID-19. We decided to integrate COVID-19 knowledge into simple and clear posters to show what they can do to lower the risk of COVID-19 on collective transportation, in the factories and in their communities across Cambodia.”

The contents in the COVID-19 worker and driver safety information are extracted from guidelines and recommendations from the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health.

The Posters can be found on our Resources Page.