Weird Work- Part 2

Why Sok Thinks It Is Worth It:

Sok and his wife Charya are rice farmers in a village in Eastern Cambodia. Sok is 47 years old and Charya is 45. The couple have seven children. Their oldest daughter is married and lives in North Western Cambodia. She sends her parents US$5 to $7.50 every two to three months from her husband's wages.

Sok and Charya also have a single daughter, 21 year old Sophany. For the past three years, Sophany has been employed as a garment factory worker in Phnom Penh. This job required a US$40 entry fee which compelled Sok to borrow the amount from a moneylender at an interest rate of US$2.50 per month. Sok acknowleged with regret that he allowed his daughter to go to Phnom Penh because he, himself, could no longer sustain the livelihood of the household.

Every two to three months Sophany gives her parents US$30 to $40. They use the money to buy rice and fish paste. Sok admits that without his daughter's remittances the household would not have enough money to buy food.

Summarised from a case study in a report by the ADI (Analyzing Development Issues) "Impact of the Garment Industry on Rural Livelihoods" October 2005.