The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) of Cambodia will phase out the usage of flatbed trucks which ferry garment workers in the country to and from their workplaces in the next three years, according to news reports.
- The flatbed trucks have long been described as a safety hazard for workers, and there have been many incidents of workers being killed in accidents while going to or returning from work in these vehicles, according to the AIP Foundation which works on road safety in Southeast Asia.
- In 2022, more than 3,900 factory workers were injured, and more than 63 workers died commuting to and from work in the garment and footwear factory sector.
- The ministry of labour and vocational training has said: “To more effectively reduce traffic accidents among … workers, the NSSF has outlined key strategies. These include regularly updating the list of drivers of worker transport vehicles. The NSSF must explore the possibility of transitioning the current modified vehicles used for transporting workers into official transport vehicles managed by a company or unit by 2027.” The NSSF falls under the ministry of labour and vocational training.
THE HAZARD: According to the AIP Foundation, the trucks that currently provide transportation to and from work are often large, flat, and very dangerous as factory workers must stand up as there are no proper seats to sit on.
- Often, many factory workers are crammed into the trucks, causing danger to their safety and well-being. The high risks encountered on their way to work do not only impact the lives of workers but also the lives of the family members they support.
RECENT INCIDENTS: On 30 January, a truck overturned as it was taking 93 workers to Cambodian factories that make garments and sports shoes for famous Western brands. Eighty-six of the workers were injured, 11 of them critically. The reason was a tire burst.
- On 5 August 2023, a truck transporting garment workers to their factory flipped on to its side in southwest Cambodia's Kampong Speu province, leaving 60 workers wounded. The accident occurred in Samraong Tong district when the truck's driver drove fast and crashed at a curve in the road. The truck was carrying around 70 workers.
AN OLD STORY: There have been many reports about the hazardous journeys that garment workers in Cambodia have to undertake.
- Road to ruin for Cambodian garment workers
- Cambodia’s killer commute
- Garment workers travel to factories standing in the back of flatbed trucks that often crash
In December 2023, the NSSF issued a public call for the owners and operators of the trucks used to transport factory workers to consider using buses, in order to improve the safety and comfort of commuting workers.
