A report by non-governmental organizations operating in Cambodia says that instances of mass faintings among workers in the garment industry are the result of malnutrition stemming from low wages.
"Shop 'til They Drop" says the study found 33% of 95 workers sampled were malnourished and 25% were dangerously emaciated.
The joint study by the Community Legal Education Center and Labour Behind the Label found that the average Cambodian garment industry worker can afford to consume only 1,598 calories a day. The recommended daily intake for industrial workers, says the report, is 3,000 calories. But the cost of food for a proper diet in Cambodia is $75 and the minimum wage paid to garment workers is $80 a month.
