Socheata Sim

Labour and Employment - Cambodia (East Asia)

For Socheata Sim, globalisation has a very human face. Living in predominantly rural, poverty-stricken Cambodia, Socheata has been examining the impact of a newly privatised healthcare system on the hundreds of thousands of female factory workers who are employed by multinational companies.

Working with the Womyns Agenda for Change group, Socheata facilitates the development and strengthening of women’s rights through a “Speak Out” process that all women are encouraged to participate in.

Educating garment factory workers, farmers and sex workers, she believes that raising awareness about exploitation by multinational companies and education of basic workers rights such as fairer wages is essential. Currently conducting research into the poor health conditions of female garment factory workers, Socheata has discovered an abnormal occurrence of reproductive diseases faced by these women. This adds to the already dismal health of workers due to cramped conditions and low pay. Socheata believes strict cultural ideals of female sexual modesty cause many women to leave their condition unreported. She plans to develop grass-roots workshops where women will be educated and advised about occupational and sexual health. Socheata is confident that her work can “empower women workers to speak out about their health issues and call for better conditions.”