3 perish as Cambodian shoe factory collapses
Source: Agencies |
May 17, 2013, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THREE people were killed when the ceiling of a warehouse fell in at a shoe factory in Cambodia, a government minister said yesterday, adding to concern about safety standards at Asian factories producing clothes cheaply for Western consumers.
Cambodia has seen a rush of investment in recent years, especially into the shoe and garment sector, with Western and Asian firms attracted by its low-cost labor. The International Monetary Fund says garments account for about 80 percent of the country's exports.
Ith Sam Heng, minister of social affairs, said another six people had been injured in the incident at the plant in the Kong Pisei district of Kampong Speu province, 50 kilometers west of the capital, Phnom Penh.
"We will investigate the case and we will take measures against those involved," he said.
He said no one remained trapped inside the building.
Earlier, a trade union member at the factory had said six people had died in the collapse.
The shoe factory, owned by Wing Star Shoes Co Ltd, a Taiwan company, employed about 7,000 people but only about 100 worked in the single-story warehouse, according to staff.
Work at the plant stopped after the accident.
A Reuters reporter saw footwear bearing the name "Asics" scattered around the damaged warehouse, where a bulldozer was clearing away rubble.
A spokeswoman for Japanese sportswear maker Asics Corp said the factory made running shoes for it. "Our prayers go out to the families of those who have died," she said.
Asics posted sales of 57.33 billion yen (US$560 million) in the year to March 31.
Cambodia has seen a rush of investment in recent years, especially into the shoe and garment sector, with Western and Asian firms attracted by its low-cost labor. The International Monetary Fund says garments account for about 80 percent of the country's exports.
Ith Sam Heng, minister of social affairs, said another six people had been injured in the incident at the plant in the Kong Pisei district of Kampong Speu province, 50 kilometers west of the capital, Phnom Penh.
"We will investigate the case and we will take measures against those involved," he said.
He said no one remained trapped inside the building.
Earlier, a trade union member at the factory had said six people had died in the collapse.
The shoe factory, owned by Wing Star Shoes Co Ltd, a Taiwan company, employed about 7,000 people but only about 100 worked in the single-story warehouse, according to staff.
Work at the plant stopped after the accident.
A Reuters reporter saw footwear bearing the name "Asics" scattered around the damaged warehouse, where a bulldozer was clearing away rubble.
A spokeswoman for Japanese sportswear maker Asics Corp said the factory made running shoes for it. "Our prayers go out to the families of those who have died," she said.
Asics posted sales of 57.33 billion yen (US$560 million) in the year to March 31.
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