A minibus carrying 32 garment workers from a factory in Phnom Penh’s Boeung Keng Kang I district veered off the road near the capital’s outskirts on Saturday afternoon, killing at least 10 people and injuring 45, according to the Cambodian Ministry of Interior. Hours later, a separate collision involving a truck and a motorcycle in Takeo province, south of the capital, claimed the lives of four more workers and left 34 injured, bringing the death toll to 14—the deadliest traffic-related fatalities in Cambodia since January, when a bus crash in Kampong Cham province killed 18 people.
The victims, all women between the ages of 18 and 35, were en route to or from work at factories supplying international brands, including a facility operated by Giant Group, one of Cambodia’s largest garment manufacturers. The Ministry of Labor confirmed that 79 of the injured remained hospitalized as of Sunday morning, with 12 in critical condition. Authorities have not yet released the names of the factories or brands involved, citing ongoing investigations.
Traffic accidents in Cambodia have surged by 32% in the first four months of 2026 compared to the same period last year, according to data from the ASEAN Road Safety Observatory. The country’s road network, which expanded rapidly under the government’s National Road Development Strategy, now covers over 40,000 kilometers but remains poorly maintained in rural areas where many factory workers commute. In Takeo province, where Saturday’s second crash occurred, only 12% of roads meet basic safety standards, according to a 2025 report by the World Bank.
Labor rights groups have condemned the lack of emergency response coordination between provincial and municipal authorities. The Clean Clothes Campaign noted in a statement that “workers are being failed at every stage—from unsafe commutes to delayed medical care.” At the scene in Boeung Keng Kang I, local police admitted to reporters that rescue teams arrived 47 minutes after the first call, despite the area being within 10 kilometers of a provincial hospital. The Ministry of Health has not commented on the delay.
Cambodia’s garment sector, which employs over 700,000 workers—90% of them women—accounts for 80% of the country’s exports. The industry has faced mounting criticism over labor conditions, including wage stagnation and lack of union protections. In February, the International Labour Organization (ILO) warned that “informal hiring practices” in the sector contribute to high accident rates, as workers often rely on unregulated transport services arranged by factory management.
The Ministry of Interior has pledged to “strengthen traffic safety measures” following the incidents, though no specific policies have been announced. A senior official told local media that “drivers will face immediate license suspension” for violations, though enforcement mechanisms remain unclear. The Cambodian government has not responded to requests for comment on whether international brands sourcing from affected factories will be held accountable.
Meanwhile, the UN Refugee Agency has offered to assist in coordinating medical evacuations for critically injured workers, though no formal agreement has been reached. The next meeting of the ASEAN Labor Ministers’ Forum, scheduled for June 10 in Jakarta, is expected to include a discussion on occupational safety in the garment sector—but no emergency session has been called.
