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Cambodian Women's Workers Project

Posted 9 September 2011 by Jeannie Rea (NTEU National Office)

NTEU pledges support for Cambodian women workers

Last week the NTEU National Office raised over $400 through organising a morning tea for the National Executive, Victorian Division Office staff and ourselves.*

The funds were raised to fulfil a pledge made at the 2001 NTEU National Women’s Conference to support Cambodian women garment workers organising.

Dr Maree Keating of Victoria University and member of the Board of the International Women’s Development Agency (IWDA) sought the conference delegates’ support for an innovative Workers Rights Education Project in Cambodia.

The Project clicked with delegates as it brought together the conference themes of making connections and working with others, locally and internationally, across areas of common interest. One of the aims of this very practical project is to ensure that women’s rights are included in union agendas. The project participants plan to present a policy to the Cambodian Confederation of Unions requesting that they incorporate a feminist agenda.

Workers Information Centres

The Project is to support Workers Information Centres in Phnom Penh. The WIC works directly with women garment workers to improve working conditions, build women’s confidence to speak out; and provide a safe space where women can find solutions to the challenges they face. The focus is upon organising women into the Cambodian trade union movement.

Cambodia’s garment factories are the primary sources of employment for the women WIC work with. They are typically aged between 18-25 years old. Given their limited knowledge, experience and entitlements within their workplaces they are vulnerable to extreme exploitation and abuse. Low wages, hazardous working conditions, sexual harassment, discrimination, short term contracts and limited social security are the norms of their working lives. 

WIC has set up six safe houses on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. They provide places where women garment workers gather, share stories and source support and friendship. IWDA intends to support a research and information gathering project in 2011-2012 so that the concerns of women workers can be collected, written up and taken up to the Confederation of Cambodian Trade Unions for advocacy and  union action. This feminist project involves training and mentoring for staff (themselves ex-garment workers), and outreach to over five hundred women, and union advocacy.

Project details

The total project will cost $10 000. IWDA asked the NTEU women’s conference delegates to help raise half of this by the end of October, so that this small but vital project can begin. If each delegate could raise $100 in donations in their workplace, we can reach or exceed this target. Every dollar counts!

You can help too.  Make a pledge. Make a direct donation

Fill in the form below simply email  ohodges@iwda.org.au

Olivia Hodges from IWDA will be in contact with you in September to follow up on your pledge.

WORKERS’ RIGHTS EDUCATION PROJECT

International Women’s Development Agency (www.iwda.org.au)

Pledge form following up from the NTEU 2011 Women’s Conference

Name..................................................................................................

University.............................................................................................

Email address.......................................................................................

Contact phone number........................................................................

I ............................................................................................, pledge to raise  $50/ $100/$150/$200/$200+ to go towards IWDA’s support to the Workers’ Rights Education project through the Cambodian Workers’ Information Centre.

*On behalf of the morning tea organisers, I’d like to thank our colleagues who contributed to the feast and to the money box.

If you’d like any further information on the project and NTEU’s support, please contact Andrea Sauvarin, asauvarin@nteu.org.au or myself, Jeannie Rea, jrea@nteu.org.au.