The Global Deal and its impacts to workers’ rights in Cambodia

Global Deal is a global partnership, initiated by the Swedish Prime Minister, Stefan Löfven, and cooperated with ILO and OECD since September 2016 for the purpose of bringing together of stakeholders (governments, workers and employers)  to promote decent work and quality of jobs and inclusive growth in labor market by making commitment to enhance social dialogue. Cambodia has submitted a declaration of support and became one of a signatory country of Global Deal among other 16 countries, 20 trade unions and 12 businesses and employer organizations and 7 organizations. Being a member of Global Deal, Cambodia is obligated to respect the ILO’s fundamental Conventions. Then, Cambodia will be asked to make commitments voluntarily such as policy change; corporation projects, training and workshops etc. or reinforce existing commitments. Together with other members of Global Deal, Cambodia should be able to promote sustainable development, decent work, and quality of jobs and especially labor rights within its territory.

Labor rights violation in garment and footwear sectors in Cambodia is a major concerned issue among other rights defined by the UDHR and other cores human rights treaties because the numbers of workers in these sectors have provided jobs for 798,815 workers in 2016 equal to 86% of the total workers in the country. The workers often come out for strikes and demonstrations and demand for better work conditions and treatment from the employers. The textile business is very important because the garment sector helped to contribute 1.3% to the total Cambodian Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which was increased 7% in 2016. The exportation of the textile and footwear products was USD 7,389,000 million in 2016 (increased 16% from 2015) equal to 46.2 % of the total GDP equal to 7.15% of total factories operating in Cambodia. From the perspectives of joining with Global Deal, how Cambodia can benefits from this partnership and what are the challenges for Cambodia and Global Deal to improve labor rights in Cambodia?

Read more at The Global Deal and its impacts to workers' rights in Cambodia, by Marady and other topics on Legal Research & Writing.