Committee for Asian Women (CAW) together with Worker’s Information Centre (WIC) is organizing a forum on “Occupational Safety and Health for Manufacturing Workers in Thailand and Cambodia” after the two days trainings, 23-24 May 2010 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.  The forum brings together 35 participants from the Trade Unions in Cambodia, Ministry of Labour, subject experts, women workers and women workers’ organizations to discuss on “the working guideline to prevent and solve the problems of health and safety at workplace”, identifying occupational related diseases in manufacturing sector, legislation and compliance assurance mechanisms, national mechanism and approaches to reduce work-related injuries and illness.

The forum will take place at La Parranda Hotel, Phnom Penh on 25 May 2010 from 8.30am to 1 pm.

 For more information, contact:  Ms. Ly Pheareak 012 199 130 / phearakly@gmail.com

MEDIA RELEASE

 “Safe and Healthy Workplace for Women manufacturing workers- making decent work a reality”

Each year two million workers die from occupational accidents and work-related diseases. Globally, 30-50% of workers reported hazardous physical, chemical or biological exposure, overload of heavy physical work or ergonomic factors affecting their health. The globalization of the world economy and rapid technological changes continue to change the nature of work and employment practices, exposing workers to new issues such as gaps in workers protection, health risks, accountability and responsibility for occupational health and safety.

Cambodian rapidly growing economy has been largely driven by country’s manufacturing sector. From 2004-2007, the Cambodian economy expanded by more than 10% per year driven by the garment and tourism sectors. The textile and garment industries is employing over 350,000 workers and generating $3 in annual revenue at its peak. The large number of women— more than 80% – working in this sector makes them particularly vulnerable to work-related infectious diseases. Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) problems in manufacturing industry such as exposure to hazardous chemicals, lack of protection from fire and machine operation accidents, are often underestimated Women suffer more from occupational health problems and have less accessibility to health facilities. They are exposed to reproductive health problems, sexual harassment, various ergonomic problems and work-related stress.

A safe, healthy and productive working environment is a prerequisite to ensure that the rights of women workers are respected and upheld. A safe and healthy workplace can be achieved by creating framework of “safeguards and safe practices”, engaging in social dialogue within a workplace, creating national and legal instrument and education and training. A concerted effort and commitment of government, trade unions, workers organization and workers is therefore required to foster safe work environment and to protect rights of women workers.

Towards this end, Worker’s Information Centre (WIC) together with Committee for Asian Women (CAW), a regional network of women worker groups and trade unions, is organizing a forum on “Occupational Safety and Health for Manufacturing Workers in Thailand and Cambodia” after the two days trainings, 23-24 May 2010.  The forum will bring together 35 participants from the Trade Unions in Cambodia, Ministry of Labour, subject experts, women workers and women workers’ organizations to discuss on “the working guideline to prevent and solve the problems of health and safety at workplace”, identifying occupational related diseases in manufacturing sector, legislation and compliance assurance mechanisms, national mechanism and approaches to reduce work-related injuries and illness.