Rights organizations and Cambodian ministries renewed calls for "beer girls" to receive respect and protection

'Beer Girls' Still Lacking Rights, Sense of Worth
Seng Ratana, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
23/05/2007

A group of rights organizations and nine ministries renewed calls
Wednesday for female beverage promoters, better known as "beer girls,"
to receive more respect and protection.

The young women, who work in an industry that often leads to sexual
harassment, prostitution or assault, should be protected, the groups
said, following a meeting Wednesday led by the Ministry of Women's
Affairs.

The meeting was meant to push momentum to help the workers and boost
their sense of self-worth, Minister of Women Affairs Ung Kunthaphavy
said.

"The problem stems from poverty, and the employers try to increase
their benefits, and there is no development," she said.

Nearly all of Cambodia's beer companies employ beer girls, who wear
dresses and sashes to promote their beverages, bringing them into
potentially lecherous contact with drunken patrons.

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