Worker dies, 11 faint at Cambodian factory

RFI

A garment worker has died and 11 others fainted in a repeat incident at Cambo Unisoll Ltd in Kandal province, raising fresh concerns about factory safety in Cambodia’s textile industry.

On 27 February, Yim Rin, a 31‑year‑old mother of two from Prey Veng province, collapsed at her sewing station and later died. Eleven colleagues also fainted during the incident, echoing a similar case in 2019 when 21 workers lost consciousness after a gas leak from the factory’s air‑conditioning system.

Officials from the Ministry of Environment and the Department of Environmental Protection inspected the site immediately after the latest tragedy. Air‑quality monitoring equipment has been installed to determine whether fumes or poor ventilation contributed to Rin’s death and the mass fainting. Results are expected once the investigation concludes.

The factory has a troubling history. In 2019, local media reported that leaked gas caused breathing difficulties and triggered the earlier fainting episode. Despite that, Cambo Unisoll has continued operations, and workers say conditions remain harsh.

Ath Thorn, Vice President of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers’ Democratic Union, said such incidents highlight the uncomfortable and unsafe environments many workers face. “Long hours and polluted surroundings make them weak and vulnerable,” he explained, adding that fainting and even fatalities are not uncommon when conditions deteriorate.

Before collapsing, Rin had reportedly heard of a separate accident involving a truck transporting workers, which injured several colleagues. Some witnesses suggested she may have fainted from shock or illness, but the broader pattern of unsafe conditions has fuelled suspicion that environmental factors played a role.

Kiripost reporters attempted to contact Cambo Unisoll for comment, but calls were declined.

The case underscores long‑standing concerns about Cambodia’s garment sector, which employs hundreds of thousands and is vital to the national economy. Yet repeated incidents of fainting, poor ventilation, and inadequate safety measures continue to cast a shadow over the industry.

For many, Rin’s death is a stark reminder that lessons from past tragedies have not been fully learned—and that workers remain exposed to risks that should have been addressed years ago.

-2026-03-02