Shoe-Repair Artisan Struggles as the Demand Declines
Originally from Svay Rieng province, Samoeun came to Phnom Penh the mid-2010s to earn a living in the capital following an illness that had left him without the strength to keep on farming. Photo: Sem Brakdav
- By Sem Brakdav
- June 16, 2024 8:00 PM
PHNOM PENH — Pen Samoeun has been offering shoe-repair service on the streets of Phnom Penh for more than eight years. However, as fewer people opt to having their shoes fixed, he has been earning less and less.
Originally from Svay Rieng province, Samoeun came to Phnom Penh the mid-2010s to earn a living in the capital following an illness that had left him without the strength to keep on farming.
In Phnom Penh, Samoeun picked a location near the Nonmony Pagoda in Meanchey district’s Stueng Mean Chey commune. Since then, his business has been open all day, every day. “I can earn about 30,000 riel ($7.50) per day,” he said.
However, these days, Samoeun may only get a couple of customers even though he works from 7 a.m. till the evening. “This business is not very lucrative,” he said.
Still, Samoeun is not looking for another job due to his age and ill health, he said. So, he remains sitting on his tiny wooden chair, waiting. With less people opting to have their shoes repaired, he often ends up only earning enough for one daily meal, he said.
Speaking of his trade, Samoeun explained that shoe repair may seem easy but that it requires a lot of strength and efforts to sew each shoe.
Having eight years of experience, Samoeun can sew all kinds of shoes, he said. The price for sewing and polishing shoes starts at 2,000 riels ($0.50) and up. Every day, he has to get up early in the morning to prepare the materials required to repair shoes.
Until recently, Pen Samoeun’s shoe-repair business had enabled him to support his family and himself. He just hopes it will enable him to do so again.
