Photos: Ahead of Cambodia polls, workers have little time for politics

Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia for more than 30 years, is trying to ensure victory ahead of country’s general election on July 29. By handing out cash inducements and a series of punishing measures against the opposition he is leaving no stone unturned ahead of the poll, which he appears set to win easily. He has also been a fixture at campaign rallies with garment workers by promising them more benefits. But workers understand little about politics, although they know the importance of voting and are determined to have a better life for their children.

Updated on: Jul 23, 2018 12:37 PM IST

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Khen Srey Touch, 27, sews shoes at Complete Honour Footwear Industrial, a footwear factory owned by a Taiwan company, in Kampong Speu, Cambodia. Whoever wins Cambodia’s general election next week, 27-year-old knows only that she will have to keep working hard for years to come. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

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Touch visits a traditional Cambodian medicine shop during her one-hour lunch break. Already the mother of a four-year-old boy, she is due to give birth to a girl within two weeks, but maintains a punishing schedule in a shoe factory, working about 10 hours a day, six days a week. “I am the main breadwinner of the house,” she said. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

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Each morning Touch catches a ride in an open pickup truck to the factory. She earns $240 a month making shoes for American, British and Japanese brands. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

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Touch stands at the door of her house as her son looks on. It gets dark when she returns home to cook the evening meal and wait for her husband, who is a temporary construction worker. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

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Touch is among thousands of workers in the garment industry who are being courted by Prime Minister Hun Sen ahead of the July 29 election. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

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Touch buys food at a market outside the factory. Like many Cambodians, she has known no other leader but Hun Sen. “He is the only person who has ruled the country and I don’t know why,” she added. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

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Women work on the production line at Complete Honour Footwear Industrial. Hun Sen, who has ruled the country for more than 30 years, is trying to ensure victory after two close elections in 2013 and 2017, by handing out cash inducements and a series of punishing measures against the opposition. His government has targeted opposition politicians, civil society groups and independent media ahead of the poll, which he appears set to win easily. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

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Workers arrive early morning for their shift at the factory. Hun Sen has also been a fixture at campaign rallies with garment workers - promising them more benefits and handing cash envelopes to pregnant employees. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

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A wedding picture of Touch is seen on her mobile phone. She said she knew it was important to cast her vote, but she understood little about political parties. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

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Seng Tharith, 4, the son of Touch, plays with a cellphone in his house. Touch was determined her children will have a better life, whatever the election outcome may be. “I want my children to have a good education, not to be like me and my husband,” she said. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)