Workers attend an AIP campaign event on road safety which targeted Kandal, Kampong Chhnang, Svay Rieng and Phnom Penh. AIP
The Asia Injury Prevention Foundation (AIP) plans to lead study tours of factories and schools that have implemented guidelines for safe transport options.
The plan was announced following a series of April 21-23 visits to factories in Kandal and Kampong Cham provinces – and three high schools in Kampong Thom province – that had successfully implemented the guidelines.
AIP country director Kim Pagna told The Post on April 24 that the three-day mission aimed to study the target locations and gain a clearer understanding of the challenges they had faced in improving the safety of worker transport.
“We implemented our plans successfully at some target factories and pushed for a proper means of travel for our workers. We want to encourage the use of passenger vehicles and make sure they are carried in numbers which are appropriate to the vehicle,” he said.
“We are also working with the drivers and owners of transport vehicles. We are striving to encourage the provision of adequate means of transport to workers,” he added.
In a recent report, the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) said that of the nearly 4,000 vehicles used to carry workers to and from work across the country, about 50 per cent are large cargo trucks.
Pagna explained that the AIP’s plan was to work with relevant partners to find solutions to foster changes from workers’ trucks to safer vehicles. The AIP had also sought to understand the challenges and set a further step in implementing the safe traffic measure programme after the target areas improved and succeeded in using safer vehicles.
“The purpose of the upcoming study visits is so stakeholders, trade unions, government institutions, and journalists will learn about the success that some factories have had, and to share the experiences of those concerned. We will run the tours soon,” he said.
The NSSF report noted that 2022 saw 3,275 road accidents involving factory workers, leaving 63 dead and 854 others seriously injured. The total equalled more than half of the traffic accidents involving work commutes that were recorded.
