캄보디아 의류공장 노동자 수십 명 또 집단기절

[울트라-노마드]

(보도) Phnom Penh Post 2012-3-7

캄보디아 의류공장 노동자 수십 명 또 집단기절

More than 40 faint as firm denies exit

 - 노동부 관리들에 따르면, 시하눅빌에 위치한 '낭우오 섬유'(Nanguo Garment Co. Ltd.) 공장에서 노동자들 40명 이상이 집단기절하는 사태가 발생함.

 - 새로 절단한 원단에서 이상한 냄새가 나면서 먼저 영양실조에 걸려있던 노동자 4명이 쓰러진 후, 나머지 노동자들은 쓰러진 노동자들이 귀신에 들렸다고 생각하고 놀라서 나가려고 함.

 - 하지만 공장 간부들이 노동자들의 퇴장을 금지시켰고, 산소 부족 상태가 지속되면서 집단 기절함.

 - 이 공장에서는 한달 전에도 200명이 집단 기절한 바 있음.

기사작성 : Phak Seangly, 보완취재 : Shane Worrell

More than 40 workers had fainted at a garment factory yesterday after officials prevented them leaving the building when four of their co-workers collapsed, a labour department official said.

The mass fainting occurred at the Nanguo Garment Co Ltd factory in Preah Sihanouk province’s Prey Nub district, where more than 200 workers fainted less than a month ago.

Yov Khemara, provincial director of the Ministry of Labour, said initial investigations suggested 45 women and one man had fainted because of a lack of oxygen. “After the previous fainting, the factory has not really improved its ventilation,”  Yov Khemara said.  “There is not enough air to breathe. So it caused the heat to increase. Their fear also contributed to the fainting.”

About four female workers had fainted in the morning, causing their bodies to convulse and sending their co-workers, who feared the souls of ghosts had entered their bodies, into a frenzy, Yov Khemara said. Officials had prevented workers from leaving because they feared they would not return, he said.

About 40 more hungry and fatigued women fainted about midday and were taken to hospital.

Preah Sihanouk provincial police chief Tak Vanntha said a strong odour from freshly cut fabric had caused the fainting. Ly Dy, provincial monitor for the Free Trade Union, said the factory should not have prevented  workers leaving.

Factory officials could not be reached for comment.

Maeve Galvin, a consultant at the International Labour Organisation’s Better Factories Cambodia, said studies had shown mass factory faintings in recent months were the result of several factors. "It’s a combination of heat stress, poor nutrition, and there is a psychogenic component, usually beginning with one person having fainting symptoms. “Structural changes need to be made. Because it’s a psychogenic condition that is contributing, it is very real and shouldn’t be confused with something psychological. So it’s important for factories to have a procedure and a drill.”

 * 상위화면 바로가기 : "[기사목록] 2012년 캄보디아 사회 및 문화 동향"