Female workers were rushed to hospital in a second mass fainting yesterday at Su Tong Fang Ying Kam garment factory in Russey Keo district, unionists said.

About 17 female workers became overwhelmed with diesel fumes from their sewing machines and were rushed to Calmette Hospital, where seven of their co-workers are still being treated after Monday’s mass fainting, Ben Sreyleak of the Free Trade Union said.

“Seven of the workers who fainted [on Tuesday] are very serious because they have heart-disease,” Ben Sreyleak said.

Despite another mass fainting, one day after 900 workers were sent home on Monday to avoid repeated mass faintings, production at the Su Tong Fang Ying Kam garment factory continued yesterday.

Ministry of Labour health department director Pok Vanthat said he, and many other experts, investigated Su Tong Fang Ying Kam yesterday after the mass fainting.

“I am still unclear about the causes of fainting, but according to our research, the main problem is the factory ventilation system,” Pok Vanthat said.