"Garment Workers’ Minimum Wage Raised To $208 for 2025, Employees Say It’s Too Little", 19 September 2024

The monthly minimum wage of garment workers has been increased by an additional $4, bringing the total to $208 for 2025, however, independent workers and unions are unsatisfied with the new pay.

In the final meeting of the tripartite National Minimum Wage Council…, 51 members participated in the voting, with the majority voting in favor of the $206 salary. The government proposed an increase in the current minimum wage, which employers supported.

Out of 51 members, 46 voted in favor of $206, one voted for $208 and four others supported the union’s proposal of $214…

Workers’ other benefits, such as coverage for travel and accommodation amounting to $7 per month, would be maintained. In addition, a bonus of $10 per month, meal allowance of 2,000 riel per day for volunteers working overtime, and seniority bonus of $2 to $11 per month for workers who have been working between two and 11 years, will be provided.

… Yang Sophorn, president of Cambodian Confederation of Trade Unions, told … that the 2025 garment sector minimum wage would not cover workers’ expenses due to high goods prices. She was not satisfied with the figure, she said.

Sophorn said inflation should be taken into consideration, thus the new wages should rise by $5 or $6.

“This year’s figure seems to have risen very little, compared to the inflation rate of 2.7%. The figure only increased $4, so I feel sad,” said Sophorn.

… Nang Sothy, vice president of the Federation of Employers and the Cambodian Business Association, representing employers, said they were “happy” with the outcome of the minimum wage negotiations for 2025 because the figure was acceptable…