Key Highlights
- Garment factory workers producing apparel for major brands report grueling heat stress, with indoor conditions recorded at 35.2C and 57.6% humidity.
- Employees at Bowker and Trax describe aggressive daily quotas of up to 700 items, verbal harassment for missed targets, and unaddressed safety hazards such as electric shocks.
- Adidas, Bowker, and Trax defended their working conditions, despite International Labour Organization findings showing widespread heat and safety violations across Cambodia’s manufacturing sector.
Severe Heat and High Quotas Inside Manufacturing Facilities
Working conditions inside garment manufacturing plants in Cambodia are facing renewed scrutiny as laborers report working under intense physical strain and aggressive production expectations. In another photograph taken inside Bowker, a thermometer shows 35.2C and humidity of 57.6%. These high temperatures create stifling indoor climates, particularly for personnel assigned to high-heat machinery. The heat stress is really taking a toll on our health,
said an employee on the ironing line.
Beyond the thermal conditions, staff members face relentless output expectations. Workers at both factories described pressure to meet group production targets of between 300 and 700 items a day. Employees pointed out the sharp discrepancy between their compensation and the retail value of the athletic garments they assemble. Just think about that,
they added. If one shirt sells for $120 (£90) in the store, how much are they pulling in from 600 of them? They make a ton of money but give almost nothing to the workers.
Allegations of Workplace Harassment and Unaddressed Hazards
In addition to strict quotas, laborers report emotional mistreatment and delayed responses to workplace hazards. Others described verbal abuse when targets were missed. When we can’t complete the quota they scold and yell at us and tell us to resign,
said a third worker at Bowker.
Physical safety concerns were also raised regarding infrastructure maintenance. The same employee said they received two electric shocks from an exposed wire. According to the worker, management was slow to address the live electrical danger: I tried to report it multiple times, but they only took action after the second time I got shocked,
they said.
Corporate Responses from Adidas and Suppliers
Major sportswear brand Adidas and factory operators have responded to the findings, maintaining that workplace standards are being adhered to. Adidas told us both factories had heat-management measures
, that its standards do not permit any form of harassment
, and that no electrical-related accidents
had been found in Bowker’s records.
Trax acknowledged periods of elevated temperature
but said cooling systems were in place and insisted its approach is not based on enforcing output targets
.
Why This Matters
The reported experiences at Bowker and Trax reflect structural challenges across Cambodia’s apparel supply chain. Such concerns are widespread across Cambodia’s garment industry, with a 2024 International Labour Organization report, external finding 69% of factories had issues with heat and 84% with worker protection. As global sportswear labels face heightened demand for transparency and labor compliance, the contrast between brand codes of conduct and day-to-day shop-floor conditions continues to draw attention from international labor watchdogs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What conditions were reported inside the Bowker factory?
Photographic evidence showed an indoor temperature of 35.2C alongside 57.6% humidity. Workers cited severe heat stress, daily production quotas ranging from 300 to 700 items, verbal threats when falling behind on targets, and an unaddressed exposed wire that resulted in electric shocks.
How did Adidas and Trax respond to the allegations?
Adidas stated that heat-management measures exist at both facilities, its workplace standards prohibit harassment, and no electrical accidents appeared in Bowker’s documentation. Trax noted that while elevated temperatures occur, cooling systems are active and production quotas are not enforced rigidly.
Are these workplace issues unique to these specific factories?
No. A 2024 report by the International Labour Organization revealed that these conditions are common throughout Cambodia, with 69% of surveyed garment factories experiencing heat problems and 84% showing issues related to worker protection.
