The global economic downturn has forced at least 20,000 workers to lose their jobs in Cambodia's garment industry this year, said Oum Mean, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Labour.

Between January and September, 77 factories were closed across the country resulting in the loss of 30,617 jobs. Although 40 new factories opened in same the period and created more employment, more than 20,000 job losses remained. Another 53 factories also suspended operations during the period but about half have reopened.

In the face of shrinking demand from the US, the largest importer of Cambodian-made garments, the government is seeking new markets for textiles in Asia and Europe. Cambodia's garment industry is the impoverished country's largest source of income, providing 80% of its foreign exchange earnings and employing an estimated 350,000 people last year.