The American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) has urged the new government to take action on Cambodia’s brick kiln industry, which allegedly continues to employ child labor and use textile waste to fuel brick kiln factories.
“I am writing to express great concern regarding reports by civil society groups and media that textile waste is being illegally used to partially fuel brick kilns in Cambodia,” Stephen Lamar, president and CEO of AAFA, said in a letter to Prime Minister Hun Manet on Monday.
“Our industry stands united against child labor, bonded labor, adverse health conditions, and environmental degradation … Through our collective policy and practices, we work to prevent the illegal use of our brand products or the waste generated from the production of our products,” Lamar said in the letter.
AAFA called on the government to redouble efforts to inspect brick kilns, evaluate waste disposal pathways and ensure compliance with all applicable waste disposal rules and regulations.
A report by human rights group Licadho in November showed that child labor and debt bondage continue to exist in Cambodia’s brick kilns. They also revealed that garment waste from international brands such Reebok, Old Navy and Adidas fuel the kilns in brick factories.
Labor Ministry spokesperson Katta Orn said the ministry was aware of the letter, but has yet to receive a detailed report on the case. Some organizations have raised the issue of child labor in brick kilns and textile waste to fuel the kilns, which pollutes the environment, Orn stated.
“The ministry welcomes cooperation from relevant parties to investigate together, and conclude whether there is any truth in this issue.
“In case we find that there is truth, the ministry will take legal action to punish brick kiln owners and ensure that they don’t employ child labor,” Orn said, adding that they will also make sure the kilns keep a healthy environment.
He said in Licadho’s report, which he saw, people were interviewed but the ministry has not come across any of the claims alleged by the report. The NGO should cooperate with the ministry “rather than send reports abroad” where they are not able to resolve the problem, he said.
Orn explained that AAFA sent the letter to the Prime Minister, and not the Labor Ministry, but if an order is given to the latter to act, he said, “we will take immediate measures”.
Licadho operation director Am Sam Ath said it is not strange that the government has rejected a civil society report, as they always do that.
“Although the government said there is no child labor in brick kiln factories, in reality there remains the use of child labor, so we demand that the government pay attention to those issues,” he said.
“I think the ministry has the capability to investigate the case as we want to make sure there is no abuse of child labor in brick kilns or impact on the environment,” Sam Ath said.
“Licadho has no ill-intention. We want to ensure there is no violation of child labor at brick kilns and the use of textile waste, which impacts the environment and health,” he said.
Government spokesperson Pen Bona could not be reached for comment while Environment Ministry spokesperson Phay Bunchhoeun declined to comment.
