10,000 downloads: How the labour law app empowers Cambodian garment workers
Minimum wage, labour rights, occupational health and safety regulations in the workplace - all these areas are of great importance for textile workers in Cambodia in terms of their working and private lives. The textile and garment industry in Asia creates millions of jobs and is a key factor for economic prosperity. By securing income for many, the industry has the potential to reduce poverty and drive development. However, working conditions often do not meet international standards and the industry holds a high risk of exploitation. In Cambodia, workers are often unaware of national labour law and health and safety regulations. The regional GIZ project FABRIC (Fostering and Advancing Sustainable Business and Responsible Industrial Practices in the Clothing Industry in Asia) addresses this issue with the mobile application called ‘Seth Yerng - Our Rights’ which aims to improve textile workers' knowledge of occupational health and safety issues and legislation.
‘Seth Yerng - Our Rights’ – Building capacities and raising awareness
10,000 downloads - that's how many times the labour law app has already been downloaded since its launch in March 2021. Additionally, more than half a million people were reached through the social networks. At the same time, a total of 52 factories have participated in our trainings of trainers, reaching an estimated 66,000 workers. One of our major goals for the app is to raise awareness about Cambodian labour rights as well as occupational health and safety regulations for garment workers, especially for women. As a result of the successful implementation of the Shwe Job app in Myanmar, FABRIC decided to up-scale this experience from the region to Cambodia. The content of the app is easy to understand through its story-telling approach and interactive manner, offering an extensive wage calculator function. It includes voice over in Khmer language to overcome literacy barriers. Collaboration with brands plays an important role for the implementation as they can encourage the usage of the app in their factories to improve working conditions.
As we move into 2022, we continue to work on our successes so far and on reaching more users and partners. With the extension of our social media campaign with a planned involvement of influencers, we strive for the further expansion of the reach of the ‘Seth Yerng - Our Rights’ app. Using a gamification approach, we will develop a quiz with 26 questions on labour law and occupational health and safety. New communication material, including an explanatory video and a digital brochure, will support our outreach activities
With all these measures we want to contribute to strengthening the knowledge of textile workers in the long run and to motivate them to stand up for their rights. You want to know more about how the app contributes to empowering Cambodian textile workers? Then contact us and we will tell you all about it.