Hor Kimsay and Cheng Sokhorng

Local industry experts responded yesterday to a new report that warns the majority of Cambodia’s garment sector workers could lose their jobs in the coming two decades as automation and innovative technologies replace low-skilled labour and allow multinational producers to move their operations closer to market.

A study by the International Labour Organization (ILO) released on Thursday found that 88 per cent of Cambodia’s salaried textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) workers were at high risk of automation. It outlined a number of technologies that stand to disrupt the sector, including 3D printing, body-scanning technology, computer-aided design (CAD), wearable technology, nanotechnology, environmentally friendly manufacturing techniques, and robotic automation.

Chief among the automation threats, according to the ILO report, is the growing prevalence of automated cutting machines and the expected rise of robots capable of sewing known as “sewbots”. While sewbots are unlikely to displace current workers in ASEAN garment factories, they are expected to be deployed in destination markets such China, Europe and the United States.

read more http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/nearly-90-garment-factory-jobs-risk-automation-ilo

They should teach the Cambodian how to fix the robots when they break.

This is a problem not just for Cambodia, but for working populations worldwide. Robotics and digital technology are certain to wipe out billions of jobs currently done by humans. It is not a matter of if, but only when.

Depending on which "expert's" predictions you believe, the new technological revolution will either be a disaster on a scale with global warming or heaven on earth, with most of us paid to stay home while computers and robots do the work.

Edited July 11, 20169 yr by Krataiboy

Dont vote for politicians who serve business interests….they should serve voters interests.

They should teach the Cambodian how to fix the robots when they break.

Sounds good but will they be given work permits for the USA and China where the

robots doing the sewing will be based.

garment sector workers could lose their jobs in the coming two decades----OP

Seriously---2 decades--20 years do you think that garment workers are going to be the only ones that will be losing their jobs to robots in that time span......

garment sector workers could lose their jobs in the coming two decades----OP

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Seriously---2 decades--20 years do you think that garment workers are going to be the only ones that will be losing their jobs to robots in that time span......It

It all comes down to costs...return on investment..we all do it...we call it investing our money...if the labour costs of an employee goes above that of a the investment in a robot...then you buy a robot.....and goodbye employee.

Sad but that is the way of the world. We all want goods at the cheapest price....they have to be manufactured at the cheapest price....nobody thinks about the human fallout.

We've seen it before but don't realise it...remember car manufacturing?Clothing?

Where is it done now....cheapest places on the planet and will continue to be so.