"Letter on Cambodia Brick Kilns and Textile Waste", 18 December 2023

On behalf of the members of the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), I am writing to express great concern regarding reports by some civil society and media that textile waste is being illegally used to partially fuel brick kilns in Cambodia. These reports allege that child labor, bonded labor, adverse health conditions, and environmental degradation are prevalent in Cambodia’s brick kiln industry. The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) is the national trade association representing apparel, footwear and other sewn products companies, and their suppliers, which compete in the global market... Our industry stands united against child labor, bonded labor, adverse health conditions, and environmental degradation… Through our collective policies and practices, we work to prevent the illegal use of our branded products, or the waste generated from the production of our products, from being used in this manner. We continue to engage our suppliers to better manage their textile waste.

Meanwhile, we call upon the Government of Cambodia to:

• Re-double efforts to inspect brick kilns and ensure compliance with Cambodia’s labor/environmental laws;
• Evaluate waste disposal pathways and ensure compliance with all applicable waste disposal rules and regulations;
• Support initiatives to improve/expand Cambodia’s waste disposal system;
• Secure the release of bonded laborers in the brick kiln industry from their debt;
• Make efforts to transfer any child laborers in the brick kiln industry to appropriate schooling;
• Support brick kilns in addressing occupational safety and health as well as environmental impacts; and
• Engage, as needed, the International Labor Organization (ILO) and other international institutions to support the transition to more responsible practices