Cambodia is strengthening its policy responses to rising workplace heat risks in the garment industry.
On 19 January 2026, policymakers, employers, workers' representatives, international brands, researchers and development partners met in Phnom Penh to discuss the implications of heat risk for safety, health and productivity in Cambodia's garment sector.
The consultation took place at a critical moment for Cambodia's labour-intensive export industries. Cambodia has experienced record-breaking temperatures in recent years. New national and international research presented during the consultation highlighted that unmanaged heat stress is already translating into higher occupational health risks, reduced output, and operational disruptions for enterprises.
The discussions reinforced the importance of aligning occupational safety and health measures on heat stress with Cambodia's broader climate adaptation and green economy objectives, ensuring policy coherence across labour, industry, and climate frameworks.
The consultation will directly inform ongoing national policy efforts, including the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training's work on a forthcoming regulation (Prakas) on heat in the workplace, alongside the development of the Occupational Safety and Health Law.
"Rising temperatures are already affecting workers' health, factory efficiency and productivity in Cambodia's garment sector. This dialogue will help translate climate risks into concrete policy and workplace solutions that protect workers while sustaining competitiveness," said Xiaoyan Qian, ILO Director of ILO Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and Lao People's Democratic Republic.
The consultation was convened under the United Nations' Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) and led by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Better Factories Cambodia, together with ILO-Japan project "Promoting a Safe and Healthy Working Environment in Thailand and Cambodia", GIZ/FABRIC Cambodia, Cornell University, National University of Singapore, and EuroCham Responsible Business Hub.
