Shouldn’t labour standards inspections be carried out by the government?
The more pressing issue is that the monitoring system is trusted by all parties – international buyers, unions, factory owners, managers and staff. At this point the ILO’s position as a neutral administrator and observer is invaluable in setting up a monitoring system that will pass over to a completely local administration by the year 2009. This administration will continue to be managed on a tripartite basis – by the government, employers and labour representatives. Meanwhile, enforcement of labour standards remains the responsibility of the government. The Cambodian government fully supports Better Factories Cambodia and chairs its management committee through a senior official from the Ministry of Labour. Buyers have said that they find the ILO’s presence in Cambodia very important because it gives them confidence that there is independent, transparent and credible monitoring happening in the country.
