The textile industry is a major contributor to Cambodia’s economic and social development: it generates almost 70 per cent of export earnings and offers employment and incomes for around 800,000 textile workers, roughly 80 per cent of whom are women. However, production in this industry still uses basic technology and simple structures. In addition, the working conditions for employees are characterised by low occupational health and safety standards, low wages, and a lack of workplace codetermination. The people in positions of responsibility have not yet acquired the level of understanding of sustainability issues needed to drive modernisation towards sustainable production, which is both a competitive factor and a key to success.