The European Union ambassador to Cambodia assured union officials that no sanctions had been applied on the garment sector in Cambodia. Former opposition leader Sam Rainsy and several civil society groups have called for sanctions on the garment industry following the dissolution of the opposition CNRP last month. In a meeting with Som Aun, President of the National Union Alliance Chamber of Cambodia, EU ambassador George Edgar said no sanctions had been taken. Aun announced, it was our priority to tell Edgar that the garment and footwear industry were vital to a lot of workers and their families and helped improve working conditions across the country.
He requested Edgar to convince the EU not to involve the in the country’s political issues and asked garment workers to continue working as normal. Edgar told Aun he understood the situation and would bring the Unions’ requests and concerns to his colleagues in Brussels.
Earlier this month, the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) called on international buyers to continue ordering clothes and textile products made in the country over worries that the US and the EU could delay preferential treatment for Cambodian exports, however, three Union leaders filed petitions to EU and US ambassadors requesting that orders should continue. Fears abound that the US may remove preferential treatment for Cambodian exports offered under its GSP, while the EU could do the same for privileges provided through its Everything But Arms initiative.
