Source: Camboja
Civil society organizations (CSOs), as well as national and international trade unions have urged the authorities and stakeholders to urgently reform factory workers’ transportation system to enhance its safety and efficiency after 14 workers died in road accidents in Kampong Chhnang and Svay Rieng provinces on May 23. Seventy-nine others were injured while close to 100 workers were affected as a result of the incidents on that day.
“These devastating incidents are not isolated events, but part of a persistent pattern of unsafe and inadequate transportation conditions faced by garment workers across Cambodia,” according to a joint statement by 53 CSOs and trade unions in Cambodia.
They asked the government to “strengthen and rigorously enforce regulations on worker transportation”. It should include the “prohibition of unsafe vehicles, establishing clear safety standards, and ensuring regular inspection and accountability”.
The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training said a total of 93 garment workers, most of them women, were affected in those two accidents.
In Kampong Chhnang, nine workers were killed and 44 were injured while in Svay Rieng, five workers died while 35 people were injured. On June 4, another accident in Svay Rieng occurred, involving 40 workers, 30 of whom were injured.
Srey Mom, 38, a worker who was injured in a recent traffic accident in Kampong Chhnang province during her commute to work by the company transportation, said she is traumatized by it and continues to suffer from her injuries even after being discharged from the hospital a week ago.
She sustained a head injury, broken teeth, and a deep cut in her arm which required 10 stitches. Her company did not cover her medical expenses, only granting her leave from work. She had to use her National Social Security Fund to pay for treatment.
She called for greater attention to transportation safety, including the installation of traffic lights, road signs, and the deployment of traffic police to manage traffic during rush hour due to heavy congestion. She also urged drivers to obey traffic laws.
“I want all drivers to be careful because passengers entrust their lives to them. If they are careless, accidents like what happened to us can happen to them too. We never know when such things can happen,” she said.
She added that transportation is essential for workers, but even more important is compliance with traffic laws and stricter enforcement in populated areas such as factory zones.
“I would like to see traffic lights installed in busy areas such as schools, factories, and hospitals. Having traffic police stationed there to help manage traffic would be even better, as it could help reduce accidents,” Mom said.
Hel Samith, 33, a worker at Can Sport Shoes Factory, said workers always hope for safe commutes, and support from factory owners and the government to ensure that they travel in vehicles that meet safety standards, for roads to have proper traffic signs, and traffic police to assist with traffic management.
He travels daily in an open-bed truck to work, often feeling unsafe as these vehicles carry many passengers, further compounded by road users who fail to respect traffic laws.
“Drivers should obey traffic laws and drive carefully. Traffic police should also be stationed in the area when workers commute to work. I remain concerned about safety, whether traveling by truck or motorcycle because there are many factors that can cause accidents,” Samith said.
Khun Tharo, program manager of Center of Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL), said in the joint statement that thousands of workers travel to and from factories in overcrowded vehicles not designed for passenger transport.
Workers are often forced to stand or sit in unsafe conditions, without seatbelts or basic protections, exposing them to serious risks in the event of accidents.
“These tragic accidents are a preventable loss of life. Garment workers should not have to risk their safety simply to reach their workplace urgently. Systemic action is needed now,” said Tharo.
CSOs and trade unions acknowledge the government’s immediate response to provide medical support and compensation in accordance with national social security mechanisms, he added. However, emergency response alone is not sufficient. Preventing the loss of life requires addressing the root causes of unsafe transportation.
Kaing Monika, deputy secretary-general of Textile, Apparel, Footwear and Travel Goods Association in Cambodia (TAFTAC), said they are working closely with the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training through the Road Traffic Safety Working Group to promote road safety. Activities have included traffic law education, direct training, free driving test, and vehicle inspections.
He added that studies had previously been conducted with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport on a model vehicle project to improve worker seating arrangements, making travel safer and more comfortable than standing.
“It is unfortunate that two accidents occurred at the same time. In the Kampong Chhnang case, the accident was caused by another motorist’s negligence. We have been implementing measures gradually, but I don’t know what the urgent measures would be,” Monika said.
“However, I believe some of the measures that have been introduced would be accelerated.”
In 2024, the government announced plans to introduce measures encouraging microfinance institutions and banks to provide low-interest loans to worker transport operators, with the aim of helping them replace modified trucks with buses. Government officials themselves acknowledged that the transition to buses had reached only about 30 percent.
Monika said the project might be completed by the end of 2027, as he did not have the exact date. He said success would require cooperation between workers and factory owners, including increasing transportation fees. Some factory owners are willing to contribute, but others are concerned about the additional costs to their business.
Meanwhile, the CSOs and trade unions urged employers and business associations to provide safe and reliable transportation to workers. They also called on global brands and buyers to provide financial support and stable sourcing commitments so factories can invest in worker safety as a non-negotiable standard.
“Worker safety must extend beyond factory gates. No worker should risk injury or death simply to get to work. The loss of 14 lives is a tragic reminder that inaction has consequences,” their statement read.
Ministry of Labour spokesperson Sun Mesa expressed deep regret over the accidents. As the guardian of workers, the ministry considers them victims of the transportation services although they pay for it, he said.
He called on transportation service providers to comply with the law to prevent workers from becoming victims of road accidents.
“The Ministry of Labour can only appeal to service providers and all relevant parties to strengthen vehicle and driver safety inspections and to work together to comply with traffic laws,” he said.
In 2025, more than 5,600 traffic accidents involving workers and employees were recorded nationwide, resulting in over 6,600 deaths and injuries. This represented a decrease of nearly 20 percent compared with 2024.
Kim Pagna, Country director of the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation Cambodia, said about 300,000 people out of one million factory workers use transport vehicles to commute. But, the risks are high due to overcrowded vehicles, workers standing during travel, aging vehicles, and drivers who violate traffic laws or drive under the influence.
He added that enforcement against unsafe worker transport operators remains limited, as authorities prefer to advocate safe transport than take strict legal action.
“We need additional measures as they use overly soft approaches at times. Compliance with the law is limited and the results are not very effective,” he said.
Although traffic fatalities among workers have declined compared to previous years, Panha said recent deadly accidents show that road safety remains a challenge, requiring stronger commitment and coordinated action from all stakeholders.
“No one is exempt from traffic accidents because everyone travels. Risks arise when road users fail to pay attention. Therefore, stronger and stricter measures are needed,” Panha said.
He called for workers to be transported only in properly designed passenger vehicles with adequate seating and no overloading, and urged the government and factories to adopt nationwide road safety policies. Stronger law enforcement and improved speed management around factory zones are also essential.
“The key issue is enforcement of the law, which is critical for workers who travel by motorcycle and those who use transport vehicles. [Better] infrastructure is important too,” he said. “Speed limits and traffic management guidelines should be reviewed in factory zones, and vehicle speeds should be strictly managed during workers’ commuting hours in areas where factories are located.”