"Garment, Footwear Workers Worry About U.S Tariff Hike Costing Their Jobs", 29 June 2025

Garment, footwear and travel goods sector workers are concerned that the 49 percent increase in US tariffs will put them at risk of job losses, poor working conditions and increased exploitation, while their minimum wage cannot keep up with inflation.

A forum, titled “A unified voice for economic justice for both formal and informal workers”, was organized by the Workers’ Information Center … to raise concerns about the labor situation, and the impact of the tax hike on workers in the sectors.

Sot Sophorng, a research officer at the center, said the announcement of the high tax imposition by the U.S was shocking and worrying…

According to the center’s report, which was presented at the forum, Sophorng said Trump’s measures will expose hundreds of thousands of Cambodian workers to harsh working conditions, increased exploitation, and their well-being, living conditions and future being jeopardized.

Cambodia exported garments, textiles, footwear, and travel goods worth $13.92 billion in 2024, up 23 percent from the previous year. As of 2024, some 1,555 factories and enterprises operated nationwide, employing nearly one million workers…

CENTRAL program manager Khun Tharo said there is long-term concern about exports in the garment sector, especially job stability of more than one million workers. If there is no positive result from the negotiations with the US Trade Representative (USTR), it will affect exports and economic growth.

“I understand that a delay in negotiations could occur. At this stage, no country that produces in this sector has reached a trade agreement with the US yet, but Vietnam may see better conditions than Cambodia,” Tharo said on his Facebook page…