The publication of an evaluation report by Angkor Report is an opportunity to look back on the last three years of our "Social Services in the Factory" project in Cambodia.
In February 2020, a field survey conducted by Angkor Report and Planète Enfants & Développement (PE&D) has made it possible to interview 400 workers within the 6 plants concerned by the project. But also 25 peer educators or "health ambassadors", 15 women beneficiaries of the crèche and 15 non-recipients, 6 nursing staff, 7 human resources managers, 1 labour inspector and 1 representative of the buyers. Members of the departmental health directorate and the PE&D team were also interviewed.
Key findings of the evaluation report:
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Health component :
– Upgrading of the 6 company infirmaries
– Skill enhancement nursing staff in the 6 factories concerned
– Increased confidence of the workers and the management
– Increased productivity because the workers no longer need to take half a day off work to have a medical consultation
– Decrease in the number of visitors to the infirmariesThis is a sign that the workers are healthier.
– 87,8 % workers said they would continue to work in the same plant next year
– 90% of the workers satisfied with pregnancy follow-ups from which they have benefited (30% of workers surveyed were pregnant)
– Formation of 61 peer educators become "health ambassadors" for their colleagues
– 9800 sensitized workers sexually transmitted diseases, warning signs during pregnancy or the importance of breastfeeding
– The proportion of female workers who know that abortion is legal in Cambodia has more than doubled during the project. But in 2020, three quarters of the workers still don't know.
The report highlights that more peer educators would have reached even more women workers.
Testimonials of 3 employees from Human Resources departments :
" They [health ambassadors] are trained by the organization and then act as a bridge between the factory and the workers" .
" Their relationship with the workers, their colleagues, is closer than ours" .
" I find the project very useful because it improves the health of the workers. And the company's reputation also improves because it is seen as a company that takes care of its employees. When employees are aware of and receive access to health services, they get sick less, their productivity increases and buyers are more confident to order" .
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Nursery component :
A pilot crèche has been developed within theTrax Apparel factory which includes more than 2800 employees of which 90% of women. 60 children from 1 to 5 years old are now welcomed there. We evaluated the safety, the activities offered, the organization and the material, the well-being of the children and finally the flexibility.
- The crèche had a strong impact on the motivation of the workers Many said they were reassured that a qualified person was looking after their child and that their child was next door
- Mothers who attended the daycare center were on average less absent and more motivated at work
- The presence of a crèche reinforced the attraction of the workers for this factorywho had an easier time recruiting
- Most of the recipient mothers said they wanted to continue to bring their child to this daycare in the future but many regret the lack of flexibility of the crèche which does not welcome children over the age of 6.
Mothers' testimonies :
" The educators teach our children very well and the children listen to them. They love them as if they were their own children" .
" Since I placed my child here, she is smarter and always curious about everything" .
" When I work overtime, I can always have my child cared for at the factory nursery" .
Testimony of a human resources manager :
" Female workers don't worry about their children. And when they are less worried, they are more focused on their work" .
>> To know everything about the project "Social services in the factory"Go to the dedicated project sheet.
What's next?
Our "Social Services in the Factory" project is coming to an end in Cambodia, but this is not the end of our work in maternal and child health and child care. Given the positive impacts noted, we will indeed continue to raise awareness of sexual and reproductive health among women workers in the factories. And in parallel, to adapt to the needs of the workers, we are launching the creation over 3 years of 22 community crèches in the villages where they live.
August 18, 2020
