CAMBODIA: Garment and Footwear Workers Minimum Monthly Wage Raised to US$194

As of 1 January next year, the monthly minimum wage for workers in the garments, footwear and travel goods industry will rise by US$2 to US$194. The decision follow days of tripartite talks between the government, workers unions and employers. According to the country’s Ministry of Labour, while the unions had argued for an increase to a monthly figure of US$204, employers wanted to reduce it to US$188. In the end, Hun Sen, the country’s Prime Minister, imposed the US$194 compromise figure. 

Prior to the Covid-19 outbreak, the garments, footwear and travel goods industry was the country’s biggest employer, with about 750,000 workers in 1,100 factories and branches. In the first eight months of the current year, the country exported US$6.8 billion worth of garments, footwear and travel items, according to official sources.