Hundreds of workers in a H&M clothing factory have fainted this week in the Cambodian province of Kampong Chhnang. So far, it is not exactly sure what caused the general fainting, but most analysts point to either poisonous chemicals used, extreme fatigue or a combination thereof.
Chinese subcontractor
Most sources say that almost 300 employers have fainted in the company, operated by a Chinese subcontractor of Hennes & Mauritz. A probable cause is the use of toxic chemicals during the production of clothing, which Greenpeace demonstrated just recently. “Workers stated there was a strange smell in the air, just before the the fainting began”, according to a police report.
Other sources point to the working conditions in the factory, where workers earn 20 cent per hour – forcing them to do far more than the ‘normal’ 48 hours per week. They state that most workers cannot afford to work only 48 hours per week (which earns them 42 euro per month), meaning the workers are de facto forced into overtime.
Not the first case for H&M
Swedish giants H&M have decided to close the factory for a week, to investigate the events and to let the 4000 workers rest for a while. It is not the first “strange event” for H&M in Cambodia: last week 300 workers had already fainted in another factory.
August appears not to be a good month for fashion retailers, after Zara was accused of slavery by Brazilian labour inspection. Inspectors had entered a factory of a local Zara subcontractor and found that the Zara factory was underachieving terribly compared to national and international labour regulations.
