Mass faintings at Cambodian garment factories
Mass faintings involving hundreds of people have occurred at least twice this week at factories in Cambodia, where workers who make popular sportswear fell victim to fumes and poor ventilation, Reuters reported on April 3.
The mass faintings occurred most recently at two Cambodian factories that manufacture clothing for Puma and Adidas. In one of the mass faintings, a reported 118 employees passed out April 3 at two factories in Phnom Penh – Shen Zhou and Daqian Textile. Puma and Adidas said they were investigating the incidents.
The mass faintings by the garment workers seem to be the result of hot weather and poor conditions in the factories, which includes poor ventilation and strong smells because of chemicals used to make shoes. They also may have been caused at least in part by food poisoning, Cambodian officials said. Workers reported being nauseated and experiencing vomiting and diarrhea during the mass faintings.
Workers rights groups were quick to respond to the latest reports of mass faintings. Garment workers in Cambodia have also begun to demand safer working conditions and higher wages. A strike was said to be planned for the week of April 17 to seek a wage hike from $100 a month to $160 a month.
District police chief Khem Saran told Reuters that one worker became ill and that others simply began to collapse. He also said that 53 others had become ill at a mass fainting at another factory because of a strong paint smell.
Mass faintings involving hundreds of people have occurred at least twice this week at factories in Cambodia, where workers who make popular sportswear fell victim to fumes and poor ventilation, Reuters reported on April 3. The mass faintings occurred most recently at two Cambodian factories that manufacture clothing for Puma and Adidas. In one of the mass faintings, a reported 118 employees passed out April 3 at two factories in Phnom Penh - Shen Zhou and Daqian Textile. Puma and Adidas said they were investigating the incidents. The mass faintings by the garment workers seem to be the result of...
Mass faintings involving hundreds of people have occurred at least twice this week at factories in Cambodia, where workers who make popular sportswear fell victim to fumes and poor ventilation, Reuters reported on April 3.
The mass faintings occurred most recently at two Cambodian factories that manufacture clothing for Puma and Adidas. In one of the mass faintings, a reported 118 employees passed out April 3 at two factories in Phnom Penh – Shen Zhou and Daqian Textile. Puma and Adidas said they were investigating the incidents.
The mass faintings by the garment workers seem to be the result of hot weather and poor conditions in the factories, which includes poor ventilation and strong smells because of chemicals used to make shoes. They also may have been caused at least in part by food poisoning, Cambodian officials said. Workers reported being nauseated and experiencing vomiting and diarrhea during the mass faintings.
Workers rights groups were quick to respond to the latest reports of mass faintings. Garment workers in Cambodia have also begun to demand safer working conditions and higher wages. A strike was said to be planned for the week of April 17 to seek a wage hike from $100 a month to $160 a month.
District police chief Khem Saran told Reuters that one worker became ill and that others simply began to collapse. He also said that 53 others had become ill at a mass fainting at another factory because of a strong paint smell.
