Affordable Housing for Garment Workers Planned

• 30 April 2019
• Local News
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The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training has held discussions with the private sector on the possibility of building affordable housing for garment workers and for them to pay through installments at a similar rate as they currently pay for rented accommodation.

H.E Ith Samheng, Minister of Labour and Vocational Training said the ministry is seeking private sector support to invest in building affordable homes for workers.

“I have discussed with the private sector to develop the affordable homes with installments equally similar to amount of fares for rented room,” Mr Ith said.

“Some investors are considering building homes or rooms to sell to workers with affordable prices. If up to four workers live in a room, they pay roughly about US$50 per month, so we build the affordable home and sell to them at a price equal to their payment for rented rooms.”

Speaking to the Labour Day meeting held here last week, Mr Ith said the installments will make garment workers able to own the property and they can trade it after they stop living there.

Mr Ith, however, did not go into detail on the number of units of affordable home needed to be built. He said that the project will take time due to the ministry needing to find potential investors.

Figures from the ministry shows that over 700,000 workers are currently employed in the garment and footwear factories.

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