The Relationship between State and Development of Garment Industry in Cambodia from 1993 to 2013

• Main Authors: Hsin-Yi Lee, 李欣儀
• Other Authors: Chen-Dong Tso
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2013
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/65360393554028342716

碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 政治學研究所 === 101 === In 1990''s, newly industrialized countries from East Asia were attracted by cheap labours, peg-against-dollar system, better market access to garment-imported countries, labour regulation as well as increasing stability of political system, and selected Cambodia as their destination in the third production migration of textile and apparel industry. Since then, abundant foreign investment has brought momentum into Cambodia''s garment sector and made it the leading sector of all export-oriented industries. Garment products represent more than 70% of the total exports, and 80% of the garment exports are going to Western markets. It has created more than 1.7 millions direct and indirect job opportunities. It''s worth noting that more than 90% operating manufacturers in Cambodia are foreign-owned, they chose to conduct CMT (cut make & trim) work due to poor quality of labour force which restricted Cambodia from absorbing new skills and technologies through these foreign investors. This research finds that there are some significant stakeholders involving in Cambodia''s garment sector, which are manufacturers(mainly foreign-owned), international buyers, and local labours. The interaction among these stakeholders is under a loop-type relation: 1) manufacturers need orders from international buyers; 2) labours need work opportunities offered by manufacturers; 3) international buyers care about working condition issue to prevent from being called sweatshops. This loop-type relation reflects the hierarchical order of actors which influences state''s attitude and policies used regarding garment sector. Cambodia''s garment-related policies show that state is a "soft-liner" under the competition networks among stakeholders. State has no power to decide the future direction of development, and all the policies are conducted to fulfill the needs of influential stakeholders. Garment sector is definitely the leading engine to economic prosperity in Cambodia, however, the over-dependence on foreign investment and western markets could make this sector sensitive to international fluctuation, and also limit the possibility for state from leading the direction of garment sector''s future development.