Some 1.2M Workers Bear Brunt of Covid Lockdown
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2021 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent Issue Number 3651 / 4000 RIEL Over 10% of Some 1.2M workers bear women suffer miscarriages, brunt of Covid lockdown study reveals ONE in seven pregnancies world- wide ends in miscarriage, and eleven Lay Samean per cent of women endure a failed pregnancy at least once in their life- N ESTIMATED 1.2 time, experts said on April 27. million factory Some 23 million miscarriages workers have been occur every year, according to data affected by the gov- pieced together from around the ernment’sA lockdown of globe by an international team of Phnom Penh and adjacent 31 researchers. Takmao town in Kandal prov- But the actual tally is sure to be ince, which will now be “substantially higher” due to under- extended to May 5, according reporting, they said in a trio of stud- to the Ministry of Labour and ies published in The Lancet. Vocational Training spokes- Two per cent of women – one in person Heng Sour. 50 – have experienced two miscar- Sour told The Post on April riages, while less than one per cent 27 that according to a re- have been through three or more. port he had received, about Levels of care for women suffering 400,000 of the 1.2 million af- miscarriage is highly uneven across fected workers live in locked countries, and even within many down areas, while the re- wealthy nations, the data showed. mainder live outside but are “A new system is needed to ensure employed by factories in the miscarriages are better recognised restricted zones. and women are given the physical Sour confirmed that al- and mental health care they need,” though they cannot go to the researchers said in a statement. work, the factory workers Misconceptions about miscar- would still receive their pay riage are widespread. from employers for the work Many women believe they occur they did before the lock- only rarely, for example, or that they down, along with an allow- can be caused by lifting heavy objects ance from their employers or previous contraceptive use. and government assistance. They may also think that there’s “They had worked in the no effective treatments to prevent first two weeks of April, so a miscarriage, especially in women they received 50 per cent of at high risk. their regular wages. For week Such misconceptions can be three and four during lock- damaging, leaving women and their down, the Garment Manufac- partners feeling at fault and discour- turing Association in Cambo- Garment workers stand in front of their rented apartments in Stung Meanchey III commune of Phnom Penh’s Meanchey district on aging them from seeking treatment dia (GMAC) is working with Saturday. YOUSOS APDOULRASHIM and support, the authors note. its members to mobilise as Miscarriage can also lead to isolation, much financial support as ent,” Sour said. food aid to those who are work at the factories outside lockdown of Phnom Penh since many women might not tell their they can afford to provide. He said that – more or less living in rented rooms. of Phnom Penh and Takmao. remains in place, the lift on family, close friends, or even their “Some factories still – all factories must have an Sour noted that after the in- “In brief, more than 60 per the inter-provincial travel partner about the loss of a pregnancy. have purchase orders from assistance package for their ter-provincial travel ban was cent of garment factories ban in reality has nothing to A miscarriage is widely defined as the abroad, but others have very workers while the govern- lifted on April 25, some work- are based in Phnom Penh loss of a pregnancy before 20 to 24 limited resources at pres- ment continues to provide ers had resumed travelling to and Kandal province. As the CONTINUED – page 2 weeks of gestation, with the exact time period varying from country to country. A review of published academic literature up to mid-May 2020 identified many causes for miscar- riages, including a more advanced Ministry defends private-vendor move maternal age, previous miscar- riages, and a father older than 40. Thou Vireak Phnom Penh Municipal Hall’s April of whom he noted live “from hand to The ministry on April 27 said Other risk factors correlating with 23 directive dictating that all state- mouth”. He likened the potential vend- allowing private vendors to sell on pregnancies that end spontane- THE Ministry of Commerce on April owned markets and other improvised ing posts to “a pot for cooking rice”. a small scale at designated locations ously are being extremely under- or 27 responded to criticism that allowing ones – such as those that sprawl near He added: “In my opinion, the [com- would “likely reopen markets”, over-weight, smoking, alcohol con- private vendors to sell essential goods factories, hospitals and residential merce] ministry should focus on sup- which it noted could pose a high- sumption, persistent stress, work- at designated locations would run areas – throughout the capital shut porting vendors so that they can run risk source of infection that could ing night shifts, and constant expo- contrary to government preventive for 14 days effective through May 7. their businesses well, at a suitable loca- add fuel to the spread of Covid-19. sure to air pollution or pesticides. health measures – which prohibit gath- Saing Koma called on the com- tion to receive a smooth supply of agri- While it said it welcomes open, There is also a link with anxiety, erings – to stem the spread Covid-19. merce ministry to establish places cultural products from various sources constructive feedback, the ministry depression and – for about 20 per cent Senior Grassroots Democratic for wholesale agricultural products and sales transactions in accordance noted that the spread of false infor- of women – post-traumatic stress dis- Party (GDP) official Yang Saing inbound from the provinces so that with good health principles. mation and offensive comments has order nine months after a miscarriage. Koma has called on the ministry to traders can earn an income during “Sharing responsibilities and hindered ministerial activities Health consequences can be set up booths for private vendors in the movement curbs. mutual assistance between the state towards facilitating the sale, supply, severe, especially for women who lockdown areas. This, he noted, would provide oppor- and the people has led us to combat experience a second or multiple His appeal came on the heels of tunities for small business owners, most Covid-19 successfully.” CONTINUED – page 9 miscarriages. AFP MUNICIPAL HALL RELEASES DIRECT MANGO EXPORTS MAP DETAILING COLOUR TO CHINA AT HAND AFTER CODED COVID-19 RISKS CUSTOMS OKAYS FARMS NATIONAL – page 3 BUSINESS – page 6 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST APRIL 28, 2021 WWW.phnompenhpost.COM National ‘Be patient, Covid-19 commission told to observe new accelerate vaccination drive lockdown RIME Minister Hun Sen has instructions’ directed the national ad-hoc commission for Covid-19 Continued from page 1 vaccination programme to Puse all means necessary to accelerate do with the operation of the factories the drive and inoculate all residents in Phnom Penh. aged 18 and over in Phnom Pehn and “Only a small number of workers adjacent Takmao town in Kandal who travelled between Kampong Speu province amid the lockdown. and Kandal or between Kandal and In a recent directive that extended Takeo for their jobs can resume their the lockdown in Phnom Penh and work now, which is good for them of Takmao to May 5, he told the vacci- course, but really the travel ban affect- nation commission to revise its strat- ed only between five and 10 per cent egy and plan to transform it into a of all factory workers,” he said. “National Vaccination Campaign”. The labour ministry estimates that “Use all means available to accel- approximately 100,000 factory work- erate the vaccination of all people ers and trade unionists have been vac- in the shortest period possible for cinated now with their first dose. After people aged 18 and over in Phnom vaccinations resumed on April 25, an- Penh and the densely populated area other 8,700 workers then received their of Kandal province,” he said. second doses, according to Sour. The campaign is being acceler- He called on workers locked down ated to achieve herd immunity and in red zones and dark yellow zones ensure the effective control of the to remain indoors, be patient and spread of Covid-19 and to prevent obey the new lockdown orders even further lockdowns. if they have received their second This large-scale vaccination cam- vaccine dose. paign must be properly prepared “When the designations for red, and proceed in an orderly manner to dark yellow or yellow zones are an- avoid the spread of the disease dur- nounced then the factories in the ing the campaign. The vaccination yellow zones can resume their oper- should be carried out at locations People wait for their turn to get vaccinated against Covid-19 in Phnom Penh’s Por Sen Chey district. HENG CHIVOAN ations. But most factories are locat- nearest residents’ homes, he said. ed in Por Sen Chey, Meanchey, Kam- Meanwhile, another 400,000 doses bath who told local media Fresh News. in February and March. Cambodia As of April 26, a total of 1,295,973 bol and Dangkor districts, which are of Sinopharm vaccines donated by “The donation is to join the fight also purchased two million doses people have been vaccinated, both all facing high risk for infections. the Chinese government will arrive in against Covid-19 and to protect the of Sinovac vaccines from China and for first and second doses, in a large- “So, they should wait patiently un- Cambodia on April 28.