More than 20 garment workers fainted yesterday morning at the capital’s Canadia Industrial Park after succumbing to polish fumes from a nearby furniture factory, according to police.
The workers were employed by the Yuonsi factory in Choam Chao commune and taken to a clinic after the neighbouring factory sprayed polish on its products, according to Ros Saradi, a Choam Chao police officer stationed at the park.
“[Police] officials also checked the furniture factory but they said their workers were not affected. Why did it affect other workers from a different factory?’’ he said.
Saradi added that most of the workers returned home after they received treatment for dizziness and headaches.
Bun Vann, a unionist for the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers’ Democratic Union at the nearby Orient factory, said Yuonsi was a subcontractor and initially produced shoes but switched to clothing after an ownership change.
“Working conditions are bad and workers do not work there for a long time. Many workers quit the job, and move to work somewhere else,” Vann said.
Saradi said he did not check if the factory was registered with the government saying, “It’s not my duty to check if they are registered or not.”
