French NGO Sipar distributes books and learning materials to factory workers last year. SIPAR CAMBODIA
A senior Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training official said the Library and Learning Centres (LLCs) project in garment factories has provided important resources for the development of skills, knowledge and know-how for workers and that it was unfortunate to see the project come to an end recently after operating for six years.
Ministry secretary of state Huy Hansong made the remarks during a workshop held on December 21 to review the implementation and achievements of the LLCs project.
The project encouraged literacy and skills learning in the workplace through the establishment of libraries within participating factories. It was initiated by the French NGO Sipar and ran from 2015 through this year.
Hansong thanked the management teams at the participating factories for their excellent implementation of the project and their having maintained and operated the libraries within their facilities these past six years.
He explained that the operation of the libraries has been brought to a halt due to the Covid-19 crisis over the past two years. While active, he noted, it managed to set up libraries in 26 factories out of a goal of 34 total, with the shortfall attributed to the pandemic situation which closed down some of the intended locations.
“Sipar and its partners have been working to instill the habit of reading and self-learning in garment workers through the implementation of LLCs in their workplaces.
“By 2021, LLCs had been installed in over two dozen factories in Phnom Penh and the provinces of Kandal, Kampong Speu, Siem Reap, Kampong Chhnang, Takeo and Koh Kong to provide the workers with access to books, audio-visual materials, consultations and other learning opportunities.
“Workers, team leaders and peer educators in the target factories also received educational training on various social topics, including the importance of reading, lifelong learning, the fight against HIV and drugs in the workplace,” Hansong said.
He also requested that the factory owners continue to operate and develop the LLCs on their own and further enhance their value by adding new document resources that meet the developmental needs of the workers.
“Please include the LLCs as part of your social programmes and maintain and develop the libraries further through the provision of necessary financial resources and materials,” he said.
Kaing Monika, deputy secretary-general of the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC), told The Post that Sipar would continue to provide technical assistance to the factories with existing LLCs.
“Unlike normal libraries, the LLCs were focused on subjects of import to the factory workers including skills training. This project was really useful for both the workers and their employers. We thank Sipar for this initiative and we would also like to thank the donors – Agence Francaise de Developpement and Auchan – for funding this project,” he said.
