The minimum wage for workers in the textile, garment and footwear sectors in Cambodia has increased to $190 for 2020, the labour ministry announced recently after a trilateral meeting. The National Committee for Minimum Wage decided $187 as the minimum, but Prime Minister Hun Sen added $3 more, the ministry said. The new wage will be effective from January 1. Besides the monthly minimum wage, workers will still receive other fringe benefits including an extra $10 per month for regular attendance and an extra $7 per month for transportation and rent, the ministry said. Labour minister Ith Samheng said that while Cambodia offers a minimum wage of about $190, Vietnam offers only $120 in some regions and Indonesia and Laos offer $110, according to Cambodian media reports. Nang Sothy, who represented employers during negotiations, said the new minimum wage was acceptable, but he appealed to the government to address better means of productivity. Pav Sina, the president of the Collective Union of Movement of Workers, said he welcomes the result and hopes that the ministry will consider the additional 13 requests, which unions have made to improve working conditions. The government has increased the minimum wage for garment workers every year since 2014. The 2019 minimum wage was set at $182 a month, an increase of $12 over last year’s $170.
