"Cambodia’s Garment Export Boom Fails to Lift Living Standards, Workers Say", 20 January 2026

Cambodia’s garment, footwear and travel goods (GFT) sector hit a record high in 2025, nearing $16 billion and making up more than half of total exports, yet the gains have not reached workers.

As the minimum wage rose marginally by $2 to $210 in 2026 amid easing inflation, garment workers say higher food, housing and transport costs continue to erode their purchasing power, underscoring the gap between export growth and daily realities of low-wage earners.

The GFT industry is the largest source of foreign exchange, with about 1,800 active factories employing roughly 1.1 million workers, majority women.

Sectorial exports hit a new milestone in 2025, representing 53% of total exports, which was 16% higher than 2024; a year that also recorded significant growth at 23%. Trade data for the first seven months of 2025 showed exports reaching $17.2 billion while imports stood at $19.2 billion…

A factory worker in Takeo province, Yiang Det, 22, said that wages in the garment sector are still too low for daily living expenses compared to the price of goods on the market, which is expensive, gasoline is expensive, and other expenses are many, which is an economic and psychological pressure for her…

… Hor Chamroeun, a garment worker in Kampong Speu province, said the rise of annual wage increase does not cover rising food prices, housing and fuel. He urged the Ministry of Labor and other stakeholders to work together to address workers’ needs, stressing that workers are the backbone of the sector.

“Market goods are expensive, but wages only increase by $2, but the prices are starting to increase. So, I request the government to help reduce the price of goods, and next year’s wage negotiations should increase by $6 or more because with a $2 increase, workers cannot live properly,” Chamroeun said.

He said rising transport and fuel costs force workers to eat “cheap and unhygienic food”, while vendors cite higher prices for vegetables, fish and meat…

Workers spend an average of $408 a month on food and other essentials, almost double their typical income of $250 including overtime and small benefits, according to the Asia Floor Wage Alliance’s 2024 survey.

Ath Thorn, vice president of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers’ Democratic Union (CCAWDU), opined that the 2026 minimum wage growth remains “too low” to cover rising living costs, forcing workers to save and rely on overtime to make ends meet…