"Cambodian Workers Seek Higher Minimum Wage as 2027 Talks Begin", 1 September 2026

Cambodia’s minimum wage negotiations for 2027 began …, with workers and unions calling for a larger increase as rising food, fuel and living costs continue to put pressure on garment workers earning a monthly minimum wage of $210.

The National Minimum Wage Council held its first meeting to discuss setting the minimum wage for workers in Cambodia’s garment, textile, footwear, travel goods and bag sectors for 2027.

Labor Minister Heng Sour said the first wage meeting allowed all parties’ views to be heard and to review data, changes and every criteria compiled by the ministry as a basis for internal discussions.

He hoped further discussions would produce results during tripartite meetings scheduled for September 14, 18, 28 and 30, 2026, noting that rising inflation would be taken into account, he said, along with Cambodia’s competitiveness and overall conditions in global markets…

The minimum wage increased from $40 in 1997 to $145 in 2015, gradually rising to $200 in 2023 and $204 in 2024.

In September 2025, the government decided to raise the minimum wage for garment workers by $4, bringing the monthly minimum wage to $210 for 2026. Workers and independent unions expressed dissatisfaction with the increase, saying the amount was insufficient to meet their living costs.

The seven criteria used to determine the minimum wage are based on social and economic factors, including family circumstances, inflation, living costs, productivity, national competitiveness, labor market conditions and the profitability of the sector, according to the ministry…

Yang Sophorn, president of Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions, said the first meeting is for participants to listen to the Labor Ministry’s presentation on the changes in economic and social factors and compare the data with their own findings during internal discussions…