More than 130 garment factories in Cambodia have suspended operations amid the global coronavirus economic slowdown, leaving nearly 100,000 workers without work and reliant on a modest and temporary government-supported stipend of $70 per month, Labor Ministry spokesman Heng Sour told reporters Monday.

Garment factory workers forced to isolate without pay for 14 days due to coronavirus concerns say they fear running out of money for basic daily expenses like food if they do not receive financial assistance from factory owners or the government.

With the cancellation of Khmer New Year due to fears about the spread of coronavirus, Cambodia’s garment workers have been forced back into their factories this week during a time they would typically be in their hometowns celebrating. Yet many workers say not enough precautions are being taken to prevent them being infected at work.

The Cambodia mission of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Friday donated 20 tons of essential health care, hygiene and sanitation goods to the directorate general of prisons (DGP) to help stop a Covid-19 outbreak.