Study finds high levels of anaemia and food insecurity among Cambodian clothing workers

The International Labour Organization’s Better Factories Cambodia project, together with the Agence Française de Développement and Angkor Research and Consulting have released a few summary results of the baseline survey for the “Study on the Impact of Food Provision on Garment Workers’ Health and Productivity”.

The results indicate that 43% of clothing workers surveyed suffer from anaemia and 16% are underweight according to the Asian body mass index. The study also found that clothing workers spend approximately US$9 per week on food (US$1.30 per day).

Anxiety and uncertainty about food supply was also found to be high in garment workers with only a third in the study meeting the definition of “food secure” according to standardised assessment tools. In addition, approximately 8% of workers met the definition for “severely food insecure”.

For the full story, see the November 2014 edition of Textiles South East Asia. Not a subscriber? Sign up HERE