The Sustainability Recommendation Paper on Promoting the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the Garment, Footwear, and Travel Goods (GFT) Sector aims to strengthen diversity and equal employment opportunities in Cambodia’s GFT sector.
Despite being Cambodia’s largest employer and leading export sector, the GFT sector struggles to employ persons with disabilities, who are significantly underrepresented in the workforce. Existing national laws and guidelines are often not effectively enforced, and factories mention difficulties in reaching the required quotas. A comprehensive approach is therefore needed to improve disability inclusion within the sector.
Estimates of persons with disabilities in Cambodia vary significantly. According to the 2019 General Population Census of the Kingdom of Cambodia, nearly 5% of the population are persons with disabilities. These individuals often lack equal access to education, employment, clean water, and other key basic services and face increased vulnerability to gender discrimination, economic and social exclusion, conflict, and emergencies. While many workers with disabilities possess considerable skills, they often lack opportunities to develop their potential. The majority of persons with disabilities struggle to participate as equals in their communities and are frequently excluded. Women and girls with disabilities are more likely to face discrimination compared to men with disabilities.