After nearly 140 people fainted over the weekend at a factory in Kandal province, 50 more at the same factory passed out yesterday.

Sixplus Industry garment factory had just reopened after the weekend, but now will remain closed until Wednesday, said Moeun Chanthy, president of the Free Trade Union (FTU) at the factory.

“Around 9am, employees were working and some say a strong smell began to fill the workplace,” Chanthy said. “Then they ran out, causing some workers to faint.”

Odour was also cited in the 139 faintings this weekend.

Sixplus administrative manager Kong Parnieth could not be reached for comment. But when officials from FTU, the Ministry of Labour and Sixplus came into the workplace afterwards for an inspection, none detected the smell, Chanthy said.

“We think the workers were still worried from the fainting over the weekend, and the fear caused many to faint.”