May 8, 2022
THIS WEEK IN HUMAN RIGHTS NEWS
Cambodia’s construction workers face issues of labour rights
Sources: New Naratif, The Law Reviews UK, ACTED, Al Jazeera, The Diplomat, The Phnom Penh Post, Equal Times
Due to a lack of labour protections, workers in Cambodia’s construction sector have faced workplace injuries, hazardous working conditions and low pay. Women in the sector have also reported discrimination with lower pay in relation to male workers, as well as gender-based violence.
New Naratif reported that the poor working conditions of many Cambodian construction workers, which includes an estimated workforce of 785,000 people, often forces families to live at the construction sites.
Many construction workers entered the sector due to a lack of job opportunities, especially for people coming from smaller villages. A lack of labour protection means that employment can be given in a verbal agreement, leaving room for exploitation. “Every construction worker experiences not being paid at least one time,” Phan Sochantra, a construction worker, told New Naratif.
The working conditions are in violation of many of Cambodia’s labour laws. For example, work days should not exceed eight hours and employees have the right to one day off per week, which is typically Sunday. A survey from ACTED found that workers tended to work 58 to 70 hours a week with no days off.
Investigating construction sites can also be complicated due to obstruction by owners. New Naratif reported that some owners were affiliated with the government. Even when site inspections do happen, workers themselves are not consulted, only site managers.
Building collapses are another major risk in construction work, especially if workers and their families sleep onsite. In 2020, at least 36 people were killed and 23 people were injured in a construction building collapse. The collapses also raise questions about Cambodia’s construction boom and the quality of raising buildings in short periods of time.
Construction investment has boomed in Cambodia in recent years. In 2020, The Phnom Penh Post reported that construction projects were valued at $1.9 billion. While Covid-19 did slow some of the growth, the increase has still been significant. Foreign investment also plays a significant factor, including from China, Japan and South Korea.
Construction trade unions continue to lead efforts for labour protections within the industry alongside other industry unions. However, construction unions face an added layer of challenges due to the fact that many workers in the industry are subcontractors. Subcontracted workers may seek union representation and learn that they are entitled to workers compensation for injuries, yet still not receive them due to the murky layer of subcontractor bosses. “In my opinion, it’s not fair, it’s not right,” a construction worker with direct experience working for subcontractors told Equal Times.