The minister of labour has sent a stern warning to garment factories to take measures to end mass faintings or face the consequences.

Speaking after a safety workshop yesterday, Ith Sam Heng said the government will get tougher on factories, fining those that didn't provide safe working conditions.

“We will be stricter on sanitation and safety,” he said.

About 130 workers from Vattanac Industrial Park II in the capital fainted late last week.

Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia secretary-general Ken Loo said the plan was justified if workers were fainting due to reasons such as poor ventilation, but such a move would be “unfair” if the faintings were caused by other “external” reasons.

“Our position has always been that factories need to be up to standard,” he said.

Poor nutrition and collective shock are often cited as causes of fainting.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SHANE WORRELL