At least 14 garment factory workers were killed and 93 others injured in two separate traffic accidents in Cambodia on Saturday, according to the country's Labour Ministry. The victims were mostly women, reflecting the predominantly female workforce in the garment sector.
The first crash occurred in Kampong Chhnang province, about 60 kilometres north of Phnom Penh, when a heavy cargo truck collided with an open-top truck transporting workers to their factory. Nine people died and 53 were injured. The second incident took place in Svay Rieng province, a major garment manufacturing hub, where a bus carrying workers veered off the road and overturned, killing five and injuring 40.
Flatbed trucks are commonly used to transport workers but often lack seats or benches, forcing passengers to stand and increasing the risk of injury or death. The Labour Ministry said it was “deeply shocked by two horrific traffic accidents that occurred simultaneously” and appealed for strict compliance with traffic laws.
Cambodia’s garment sector is the country’s main export earner, with low labour costs providing a competitive advantage. Salaries, including overtime, typically range from $200 to $300 a month. The sector employs an estimated 800,000 to one million people in about 1,900 factories, with exports exceeding $15.5 billion last year.
A Transport Ministry report noted that 1,467 people were killed in traffic accidents in 2025, making road crashes the leading cause of accidental death in the Southeast Asian nation.
