The Ministry of Labour has ordered management at a Kandal province garment factory to clean their workroom and limit employees’ overtime hours, in response to over 100 workers fainting over two days.

During a visit to King First Industrial Co, Ltd’s Kandal location yesterday, Seng Sakada, director-general of the Labour Ministry, cited excessive overtime, insufficient ventilation and poor sanitation as likely causes for Thursday and Friday’s mass faintings.

“The employees work so much overtime, they are weak to the point of fainting,” Sakada said, adding that some employees work two to four extra hours every day. “The factory [also] must rid the workplace of all pollution in the air.”

Sakada said Labour Ministry inspectors will follow up with surprise inspections.

A King First official who spoke on condition of anonymity said factory management would follow the ministry’s order.

Nearly 60 workers fainted at King First’s Kandal location on Friday morning, Khouth Touch, president of the factory’s Free Trade Union chapter, said.

A day before, about 50 workers at the same branch fainted. King First administrative officer Chea Houth said ventilation had not been a factor.

King First’s location in the capital’s Russey Keo district temporarily closed its doors last year after paint fumes caused about 60 workers to faint.