"Study reveals climate impact on Cambodian garment workers", 18 March 2025

A new study by researchers at Royal Holloway University of London and Nottingham University sheds light on the increasing heat stress faced by garment workers in Cambodia.

The...garment industry was one of five sectors examined by the study, published in the Climate and Development peer-reviewed journal, of the affects of climate change on workers.

“The results of the study show that 64% of the 100 surveyed workers recorded core temperatures over 38°C – considered an unhealthy body temperature – at least once within seven days of work,” says the report.

The duration of time spent working at or above 38°C varied substantially between sectors. Informal food sellers spent 0.8% of their working hours at or above 38°C, while the figure for garment workers was 5.4%.

However, agricultural workers (7.1%), and construction workers (8.4%) were even more impacted by heat stress...

“Relatively socially disadvantaged people are disproportionately affected by temperature extremes. This paper explores this point in Cambodia: one of the world’s hottest and most humid countries, and a Least Developed Country (LDC) as designated by the UN.”

The study says that the garment industry...faced unique challenges with garment workers vulnerable to heat stress due to factory conditions and limited climate control...

Previous studies had already flagged climate change as a major concern for Cambodian garment workers. The authors of the new research emphasised the need for urgent action to protect workers and maintain productivity...