MoU inked with GIZ to improve garment sustainability

THE Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Tuesday with Germany’s international development organisation, the Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

The MOU serves to implement the second phase of a multinational project aimed at improving the sustainability of the textile and garment sector.

Ministry secretary of state Mom Vannak and GIZ Country Director Günter Riethmacher inked the agreement on the Promoting Sustainability in the Textile and Garment Industry in Asia (Fabric) project at the latter’s headquarters on Tuesday.

Minister of Labour and Vocational Training Ith Sam Heng witnessed the signing ceremony.

Implemented in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Myanmar and Pakistan since 2016, and Vietnam, which was just included this year, the project will be extended until March 31, 2021, and cost € 6 million ($6.7 million).

In Cambodia, the collaboration is focused on information and contact exchanges between state and private institutions within the textile and garment sector, with national and regional levels.

T h i s i s i n order to st reng t hen compliance with s ustai nabili t y standards “as stipulated in the Kingdom’s Labour Law and international conventions ratified by Cambodia”, the ministry said.

Through the project, the GIZ “provided the ministry with financial and technical assistance to make the inspection system in Cambodia more transparent, effective and credible”.

Moreover, “the ministry is [also] provided with aid to carry out actions in support of the strategic plan for gender mainstream in the labour and vocational training sector to promote gender equality and empower women who work in the textile and garment sector”.

Speaking to reporters after the signing, Nguy Rith, the ministry’s undersecretary of state, said the project would enable Cambodia to “exchange good experiences with and learn from other countries involved in the project in regard to the successful implementation of sustainable practices in the sector”.

Rith stressed: “We have obtained the achievements to the extent that work inspection groups, orders and manuals are established to solve conflicts for law enforcement participation.

“This successful project enabled GIZ to establish a second project to promote social standards in up to six countries.”

Si nce it s i ncept ion i n 2016 up to la st yea r, he sa id t he projec t had resu lted i n hig hly successf ul outcomes.

Similarly, Sam Heng lauded the project, saying that the assistance provided by GIZ has improved the effectiveness of the work inspection system and conditions in the textile and garment sector.

He noted t hat, so fa r t his yea r, disputes in t he industr y had been solved more ef fectively.

“Through t his [project], I believe our aim to strengthen the sustainability of the sector would be accompl ished successf u l ly,” Sa m Heng said.