CAMBODIA: Three people are killed when the ceiling of a warehouse falls in at a shoe factory in Kampong Speu

Record ID: 216395

  • Title: CAMBODIA: Three people are killed when the ceiling of a warehouse falls in at a shoe factory in Kampong Speu
  • Date: 16th May 2013
  • Summary: KAMPONG SPEU, CAMBODIA (MAY 16, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SECURITY PERSONNEL INSIDE FACTORY MOVING DEBRIS MEDIA FILMING PEOPLE GATHERED INSIDE FACTORY HEAVY MACHINERY MOVING DEBRIS EXTERIOR OF COLLAPSED FACTORY SOCIAL AFFAIR MINISTER ITH SAMHENG SPEAKING TO THE MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Khmer) SOCIAL AFFAIR MINISTER ITH SAMHENG SAYING: "This incident caused two of our workers de
  • Embargoed: 31st May 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cambodia
  • Country: Cambodia
  • Topics: Business,Disasters,Industry,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4TVCEERHQES0UF8GD3RQN9TO5
  • Story Text: Three people were killed when the ceiling of a warehouse fell in at a shoe factory in Cambodia, a government minister said on Thursday (May 16), adding to concerns about safety standards at Asian factories producing cheap clothing.
    Cambodia has seen a rush of investment in recent years, especially into the shoe and garment sector, with Western and Asian firms attracted by its low-cost labour. The International Monetary Fund says garments account for about 80 percent of the Southeast Asian nation's exports.
    "This incident caused two of our workers dead and wounded seven others. We are so regretful of this incident and on behalf of the ministry, we pay deep condolences to the dead workers and the royal government of Cambodia will organize the investigation into this incident and to implement measures to prevent such an incident from happening again," said Ith Sam Heng, minister of social affairs, told Reuters at the plant in the Kong Pisei district of Kampong Speu province, 50 km (30 miles) west of the capital, Phnom Penh.
    Earlier, a trade union member at the factory had said six people had died in the collapse, which happened at around 7 a.m. (2400 GMT on Wednesday. He said no one remained trapped inside the building.
    The shoe factory, owned by Wing Star Shoes Co Ltd, a Taiwan company, employed around 7,000 people but only around 100 worked in the single-storey warehouse, according to staff.
    Strikes over pay and poor working conditions are common in Cambodia which, like Bangladesh, is home to numerous factories producing clothing cheaply for Western retailers.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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