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Worked to debt: Over-indebtedness in Cambodia's garment sector (English)
This joint briefing paper is made under the Cambodian Alliance of Trade Union (CATU), Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL), and Cambodian Leauge for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO). Results of this research are from a survey of 162 garment workers (158 women) between March and May 2020. Workers came from three different factories that have partially or fully suspended work. Researchers found that two-thirds of workers were paying off at least one microloan, and that these repayments took up the majority of their pre-suspension incomes. On average, the combined monthly payments for debt and food expenses exceeded workers’ salaries, resulting in the vast majority of microloan borrowers eating less food to be able to repay. 96% of respondents who held microloans said their life was either “much worse” (80%) or “slightly worse” (16%) now compared to before taking out their microloan. Just 2% reported their life was “slightly better”, and none said it was “much better”.
Additional Information
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Last updated | July 6, 2020 |
| Created | July 6, 2020 |
| Format | |
| License | Creative Commons Attribution |
| Name | Worked to debt: Over-indebtedness in Cambodia's garment sector (English) |
| Description |
This joint briefing paper is made under the Cambodian Alliance of Trade Union (CATU), Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL), and Cambodian Leauge for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO). Results of this research are from a survey of 162 garment workers (158 women) between March and May 2020. Workers came from three different factories that have partially or fully suspended work. Researchers found that two-thirds of workers were paying off at least one microloan, and that these repayments took up the majority of their pre-suspension incomes. On average, the combined monthly payments for debt and food expenses exceeded workers’ salaries, resulting in the vast majority of microloan borrowers eating less food to be able to repay. 96% of respondents who held microloans said their life was either “much worse” (80%) or “slightly worse” (16%) now compared to before taking out their microloan. Just 2% reported their life was “slightly better”, and none said it was “much better”. |
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