Jul

Occupational Health and Safety for Construction Workers and Safe Building Standards Must Be Guaranteed

We, as workers, communities, associations, trade unions, civil society organisations and human rights defenders working for the promotion of human and labour rights in Cambodia, extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones in the tragic deadly collapse of an under-construction seven-storey building in Village 3, Sangkat 4, Sihanoukville Province on 22 June 2019 at 4:00 a.m. We are grateful to the mixed rescue team for their persistent efforts to locate victims during the critical sixty hours of searching.

As of 27 June 2019, at least 28 construction workers were confirmed dead, including five women and rescue teams had pulled out another 26 injured. Amongst the injured were two 16-year-olds, a girl and a boy. All victims are now at Preah Sihanouk Referral Hospital. The victims were migrant workers from other Cambodian provinces.

The evening prior to the accident, an eye-witness reported that two trucks transported between 30 – 40 workers into the construction site. These workers stayed on the ground floor of the collapsed building along with other workers’ families. One worker said that the company had very poor health and safety standards. At least 60 workers and their families used the building as their accommodation and workplace and the building collapsed whilst they were sleeping.

The building was being constructed by a Chinese company named Xi Gang Tang Gong Gou Ji Haisao which was publicly known as lacking legal authorisation to carry out construction activities from the authorities. The construction site was on 15×30 square meters of land located in an urban area of Sihanoukville Province and was 80% completed despite receiving two stop-work notices from authorities.

On 18 October 2018, the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction (MLMUPC) found that there were many unauthorised construction projects in Sihanoukville Province and that illegal construction activities affect the public environment and beauty as well lead to poor construction quality.

“Urban development must prioritise preventing environmental impact, as well as on sustainability and public safety which are the role of State. Any violations of laws or government instructions are illegal actions and the law must be strictly enforced for the perpetrator in order to make them accountable”, said Mr Sok Kin, president of Building and Wood Workers Trade Union Federation of Cambodia (BWTUC).

One day after the accident, the government established a committee to inspect and investigate the building collapse in Sihanoukville. The committee’s mandate is to review the technical inspection of buildings and compliance of building standards on construction sites in Sihanoukville and the prevention of risks.

This is not the first building collapse in Cambodia’s construction history. In the middle of 2018, the 23rd floor of the Mekong View 6 collapsed, killing 2 workers and injuring at least 5 others. In mid-August 2018, an under-construction building in Russei Keo District, Phnom Penh collapsed whilst workers were working. Fortunately, nobody was injured. In May 2013, the roof of Wing Star Shoes footwear factory in Kampong Speu Province collapsed, killing a 15-year-old girl and a 24-year-old man. In April 2016, there was also a bridge collapse at Top World Garment factory. Often, construction projects use sub-contractors who provide unreasonable working conditions, violate workers’ fundamental legal rights and do not fulfil their duties to guarantee workers’ health and safety.

“Implementation of Occupational Health and Safety standards on construction sites must be strictly and effectively enforced. Taking the workplace as accommodation risks workers’ and their families’ lives. The builder and owner must be accountable and responsible for their crimes. Compensation is not enough,” said Mr. Khun Tharo, program manager at Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL).

Having seen this horrific event, we call upon the Royal Government of Cambodia and private developers to take immediate action for a long-term solution to prevent similar tragedies in the future by implementing the following recommendations:

An immediate cessation of all construction projects in Sihanoukville until the completion of a proper investigation and inspection by independent experts to ensure that all construction projects are compliant with both the law and safety standards. This measure must also be enforced for all construction projects across Cambodia.
Establish an effective, transparent and accountable inspectorate to ensure proper implementation of safety standards for construction workers in Cambodia.
Pay appropriate damages and compensation to victims including their families and dependents.
Conduct a thorough investigation to find and punish the perpetrators in accordance with the laws of the Kingdom of Cambodia. Hold all government authorities responsible accountable for the accident to the same standards as the perpetrator.
The immediate cessation of all unauthorised sub-contracting activities and guaranteed implementation of safety standards at all construction sites.

This joint statement is endorsed by;

The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC), Cambodia
Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT), Cambodia
Cambodia Youth Network (CYN), Cambodia
Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions (CATU), Cambodia
Independent Trade Union Federation (INTUFE), Cambodia
Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL), Cambodia
Coalition of Cambodian Farmers Community Association (CCFC), Cambodia
The Cambodian Food and Service Workers Federation (CFSWF), Cambodia
Building and Wood Workers Trade Union Federation of Cambodia (BWTUC), Cambodia
Independent Democratic of Informal Economy Association (IDEA), Cambodia
Cambodia Tourism Workers Union Federation (CTWUF), Cambodia
Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), Cambodia
National Independent Federation of Textile Union of Cambodia (NIFTUC), Cambodia
Labor Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employee of Nagaworld (L.R.S.U), Cambodia
Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL), Cambodia
Union Alliance of Labor (UCL), Cambodia
Free Trade Union of Workers of Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC), Cambodia
Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO), Cambodia
Minority Rights Organization (MIRO), Cambodia
ActionAid, Cambodia
Klahaan Organization, Cambodia
Solidarity Center (SC/ACILS), Cambodia
Building and Wood Workers International (BWI), Asia Pacific
Public Services International (PSI)
NaZemi, Czech Republic
Solidar Suisse, (Switzerland)
Youth Resource Development Program (YRDP), Cambodia
The Cambodian Human Rights Action Coalition (CHRAC), Cambodia
Cambodia Labor Confederation (CLC), Cambodia
Asia Monitor Resource Centre (AMRC), Hong Kong
Globalization Monitor, Hong Kong
Borderless Movement, Hong Kong
Labour Education and Service Network, Hong Kong
Yokohama Action Research, Japan
China Labour Bulletin, Hong Kong
JTNC Watch, Japan
China Labour Bulletin, Hong Kong
Maquila Solidarity Network – MSN, Canada
Civil Rights Defenders (CRD), Sweden
Future In Our Hands (FIOH), Norway
Local Initiative for OHS Network, Indonesia
Asia Floor Wage Alliance (AFWA), Asia Regional
LIPS – Sedane Labour Centre, Indonesia
Serikat Pekerja Nasional (SPN), Indonesia
Serikat Buruh Indonesia (GSBI), Indonesia
Federasi Buruh Lintas Pabrik (FBLP), Indonesia
Konfederasi Aliansi Serikat Buruh (KASBI), Indonesia
Trade Union Rights Center (TURC), Indonesia
Social Action for Community and Development (SACD), Indonesia
Korean House for International Solidarity, South Korea
Clean Clothes Campaign, (South East Asia)
Clean Clothes Campaign, (East Asia)
Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), Norway
MAP Foundation, Thailand
Workers Assistance Center, Inc., Philippines
FOCUS on Global South, Thailand
Fair Action, Sweden
Garment and Allied Workers Union-North India
National Free Trade Union, Sri Lanka
Dabindu Collective, Sri Lanka
TWFI (HMS), India
Garment Labour Union (GLU), Sri Lanka
Free Trade Zones & General Services Employees Union (FTZ&GSEU), Sri Lanka
Workers Empowerment (Hong Kong)
Equitable Cambodia (EC), Cambodia
Magnus Kjellson, (Labor Rights Advocate), Sweden
Karins Ström, (Labor Rights Advocate), Sweden
Pheareak Ly, (Labor Rights Advocate), Cambodia
Pech Polet, (Human Rights Advocate), Cambodia
Sen Chanthou, (Human Rights Advocate), Cambodia
Chrek Sophea, (Human Rights Advocate), Cambodia
Chroeung Saphoeurt, (Human Rights Advocate), Cambodia
Rita Olivia Tambunan, (Labor Rights Advocate), Indonesia
Boeung Pram community, Cambodia
Sdey Krom Fishery community, Cambodia
Bos Sa Am community, Cambodia
Anlong Run community, Cambodia
Andoung Kantuot community, Cambodia
Phum Kdeb Thmor land community, Cambodia
Phum Ou Svay land community, Cambodia
Phum Sela Khmer land community, Cambodia
Phum Steung Bort land community, Cambodia
Phum Phsar Kandal land community, Cambodia
Ta Trai land community, Cambodia
Sre Prang community, Cambodia
Chikor Krom community, Cambodia
Chikor Leu community, Cambodia
Koh Sralao fishery community, Cambodia
Somros Koh Sdach fishery community, Cambodia
Koh Sdach land community, Cambodia
Pich Changva Laor Chert forest community, Cambodia
Steung Khsach Sar forest community, Cambodia
Toul Samrong community, Cambodia
Phnom Neang Kongrei community, Cambodia
Fishery Resource Development community, Cambodia
Fishery community, Cambodia
Prey Peay fishery community, Cambodia
Phnom Tnort community, Cambodia
Kampong Samaki community, Cambodia
Samaki Phnom Chorm Mlou community, Cambodia