The environmental toll of the textile and garment sector is staggering: mountains of fabric waste, and carbon-heavy transport crisscrossing the globe. These impacts aren’t abstract—they are experienced firsthand by workers and their communities.

In Phnom Penh, an independent economic impact assessment report was released, recommending a comprehensive ban on asbestos in Cambodia.

In Cambodia, earning a living often comes at a high personal cost. Women are overrepresented in low-paid, insecure jobs where long hours, unsafe conditions and weak legal protections are common. For street vendors, factory and hospitality workers, or women carrying heavy loads on construction sites, basic rights are often out of reach.

Discrimination continues to push sex workers to the margins. ASVW is confronting this through public advocacy and alliances with other women’s and labour rights organisations.

Cambodia’s Minister of Health, His Excellency Prof. Chheang Ra, reaffirmed his commitment to leading the country toward a transition away from asbestos.