Phnom Penh (FN), July 11 – Cambodian Council of National Unions president Som Seoun representing 500,000 garment and footwear workers, on Thursday, submitted a joint petition to the European Union (EU) to continue granting the “Everything but Arms” (EBA) preferential system to Cambodia.

According to the petition, through EBA scheme, EU has become Cambodia's second largest trading partner. EBA has provided income to support the livings of three millions Cambodian workers and their family members; EBA has allowed rural families to escape poverty and opportunities for their children to pursue education; it also promoted a better working condition, and freedom of unions in Cambodia.

On 10 July, five of Cambodia’s largest unions, representing thousands of workers in the garment and footwear sectors, separately filed petitions to EU to continue granting the EBA preferential system to Cambodia.

The unions strongly urged the EU to fully consider the impacts of the withdrawal of the EBA preferential system from Cambodia, which will have a direct negative impact on the garment and footwear industries.
=FRESH NEWS