Voices of Cambodia’s Factory Ambassador Programme

12 Sep 2024

PHNOM PENH – During the COVID-19 pandemic, leadership capacity development within garment factories took on a new urgency, and Better Factories Cambodia (BFC) developed the first session of the Factory Ambassador Programme (FAP). The programme is designed to support the capacity development of key members of the factory bipartite committee to take more ownership of improving their workplaces.

The goal is to elevate factory ambassadors, equipping them with the skills and confidence to transform their workplaces. Moving from passive recipients of training to proactive leaders, these ambassadors now diagnose emerging issues, facilitate problem-solving, and tailor training to their factories’ specific needs.

FAP is designed to complement the existing advisory services provided by BFC. The programme is structured as a 10-module course that covers essential areas such as soft skills, Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), Human Resources, and Industrial Relations. Throughout the year of BFC’s advisory engagement, ambassadors participate in guided self-diagnosis and bipartite committee meetings, improving the capacity to identify root causes of problems that exist in factories and recommend effective solutions.

During the initial stages, BFC sought out high-potential leaders—individuals who were naturally approachable, emotionally intelligent, skilled listeners, and had some degree of experience or interest in applying new ideas or technologies. Priority is also given to applicants who outline specific plans to apply the skills and knowledge to their organization.

Programme Impact

Sim Noreth, a BFC trainer and advisor, reflects:

“When factory ambassadors take ownership of problem-solving, root cause analysis, and finding solutions, big problems can be reduced to small problems or caught early. This proactive approach empowers teams to solve issues independently.”

Our first cohort faced the unique challenge of online training during the pandemic. This period was an opportunity to innovate and learn. Feedback led us to expand the next cohort to full-day, in-person sessions, significantly enhancing attendance and participant interaction.

Building on this success, BFC partnered with a buyer to tailor the program to the specific needs of their partner factories. Addressing real challenges in management systems, facilitation, problem-solving, and grievance handling. Together, the BFC’s team and ambassadors developed robust improvement plans, quarterly reflections with the partnering brand allowed BFC to adjust the course and track progress.

Insights from the Field

Ambassador Spotlight 1:
Sophea, Zentai Garment Factory

Sophea, a forceful speaker with a strong sense of purpose, has journeyed from a “normal factory employee” to translator, HR manager, and now a general manager after over two decades in the industry. Her dedication to learning and growth drives her participation in the Factory Ambassador Programme.

“When I was a translator, there were many problems in the factory, but only 30% were discussed, and not the 30% that workers cared about. There was no bridge between workers and managers. I want to be that bridge,” Sophea shares.

Reflecting on her experience, Sophea emphasizes the distinction between management and leadership. “Management is about managing with limitations, but leadership is about listening, fixing problems, changing mindsets, and helping workers find purpose in their jobs. Leadership can change the world.”

Looking forward, Sophea is committed to her role, saying, “It’s more work to be an ambassador, but I’m happy to do it. Even if trainees move on, they will carry their knowledge with them.”

Ambassador Spotlight 2:
Kimsour, Markalot Factory

Kimsour, initially a quiet and reserved participant, recalls, “I wasn’t confident and didn’t understand technical topics like OSH systems and labour laws. Joining the bipartite committee changed that.”

Driven by a desire to learn and help her factory, Kimsour found the negotiation training particularly valuable. “Workers often come to me with problems. Instead of deciding who’s at fault, I now dig deeper to understand the issues and find solutions.”

Active listening became a crucial skill for Kimsour. “I did not feel like I was an active listener before. Now, I understand where workers are coming from and can effectively communicate. I’ve learned how to investigate and turn problems into solutions.”

“Now I listen more actively. I’ve learned how to investigate, find the problem, and see how the problem can become a solution.” – Kimsour, Markalot

Sophea and Kimsour, after completing the final module of FAP, along with other Factory Ambassadors and BFC’s trainers

Looking Forward: More Sustainable Business Practices and Responsive Factories

Noreth noted that there has been remarkable progress from ambassadors on the self-conducted internal audits. “Their skills lead to better-run production, increased worker knowledge, and higher productivity, which ultimately results in lower turnover rates. Factories with ambassadors are notably more responsive to workers’ needs. Ambassadors independently facilitate bipartite meetings and deliver quality improvement plans promptly. Workers trust ambassadors more, and ambassadors strive to stay close to workplace issues.” said Noreth.

At the enterprise level, the Factory Ambassador Programme’s year-long format is uniquely beneficial for applied learning, given the rigorous curriculum. New cohorts are already in progress, which have integrated insights from the pilot year into our success indicators.

Beyond the enterprise, the program demonstrates that trained factory leaders can drive a culture of compliance and continuous improvement. As these leaders move to new factories, they carry their knowledge and skills with them, fostering a generation of factory leaders who take ownership, facilitate social dialogue, and improve their enterprises.

সংবাদ

সব দেখুন
সাফল্যের গল্প 12 ডিসেম্বর 2023

ট্রেড ইউনিয়ন নেতাদের ক্ষমতায়ন: ইয়াং সোফোর্নের যাত্রা

প্রশিক্ষণ ৩ অক্টোবর ২০২৩

কম্বোডিয়া পোশাক শিল্প প্রশিক্ষণে সংবেদনশীল এবং সামাজিক দক্ষতা নতুন ফোকাস পেয়েছে

গ্লোবাল হোম ১ মার্চ ২০২৩

ডিজিটাল মজুরিতে একটি দায়িত্বশীল রূপান্তর: কম্বোডিয়ার জন্য একটি সময়োপযোগী পদক্ষেপ

গ্লোবাল হোম, সাফল্যের গল্প, প্রশিক্ষণ 22 ডিসেম্বর 2022

কম্বোডিয়ার পোশাক শিল্পে ডিজিটাল মজুরি প্রদান বিষয়ক কর্মশালা

লিঙ্গ এবং অন্তর্ভুক্তি ৪ নভেম্বর ২০২২

কম্বোডিয়ার পোশাক খাতে লিঙ্গ সমতার মূলধারার

অংশীদারিত্ব 25 অক্টোবর 2022

কম্বোডিয়া সরকার এবং আইএলও আরও পাঁচ বছরের জন্য উন্নত কারখানা কম্বোডিয়া প্রোগ্রাম প্রসারিত করার জন্য মউ স্বাক্ষর করেছে

গ্লোবাল হোম, গ্লোবাল নিউজ, সাফল্যের গল্প 4 অক্টোবর 2022

কম্বোডিয়ার উপকূলে ডিজিটাল মজুরি

গ্লোবাল হোম ১১ আগস্ট ২০২২

দ্য বুক অফ পিপল-সেলিব্রেটিং ইন ক্যাম্বোডিয়ায় প্রভাবের 20 বছর উদযাপন

২৯ জুলাই ২০২২

পরিবর্তনের প্রোফাইল: নভেম্বর দারা

আমাদের নিউজলেটারে সাবস্ক্রাইব করুন

আমাদের সর্বশেষ সংবাদ এবং প্রকাশনাগুলির সাথে আপ টু ডেট থাকুন আমাদের নিয়মিত নিউজলেটার সাবস্ক্রাইব করে।