Cambodia
Although its textile and apparel sector is significantly smaller than Vietnam, Cambodia — with more than $4 billion in exports($6-7 billion garment export) — faces similar issues. Cambodia has almost no upstream suppliers in fabrics, threads, accessories and trims, having to import primarily from China and Taiwan. According to Van Sou Leng, Chairman of the Garment Manufacturer's Association in Cambodia, this is one of the biggest challenges to the growth of Cambodia's garment sector.
With close to 500 factories, Cambodia has roughly 500,000 textile and apparel workers. Labor costs are significantly higher than Bangladesh with a monthly minimum wage of approximately $100 and the average monthly income of a garment worker around $150. With more than 1,500 active unions and ongoing strikes, the Cambodian garment sector faces significant challenges.