The sound of sewing machines is back at Cotiwoga garment factory in Kandal province’s Kandal Stoeung district. Following the mid-September clash between foreign and local workers, everyone is back on the production line because life has to go on.
Authorities have dealt with the high-profile altercation, revoking the work permit of the Chinese supervisor involved. At local tea stalls, neighbors talking about the incident agreed that keeping the peace is always best when working away from home, and turning to physical violence only ruins your own livelihood while causing chaos for the factory.
With so many factories in the area, foreign bosses and local workers cross paths every day, making friction hard to avoid sometimes. Fortunately, the situation has settled down. Workers are clocking in on time, the factory gates are packed with motorbikes just like before, and daily life is back to its busy rhythm.
