Cambodian PM Defends the Monthly Minimum Wage for Workers

Phnom Penh, October 03, 2023 --

Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Cambodia, this morning defended the decision on the monthly minimum wage for the garment workers of US$204.

Addressing to a get-together with some 18,000 workers from Khan Meanchey and Khan Dangkor in Phnom Penh, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet said this is not enough for the workers, but this is the commitment of the Royal Government in order to mitigate the negative impact on this sector.

“A US$4 increase is very little for our workers, but it is hard for the employers, therefore we should share to live and help to live together during this economic downturn,” he added.

Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet said our workers’ minimum wage is already higher than that in some nations, including Laos, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, Vietnam and some parts in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Regarding the issue, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Chairman of the Supreme Privy Council of His Majesty the King last night shared that this is a slight increase on salary but it is better than losing a job and losing the whole income.

In a situation where the world’s economy is in downturn, increasing the wages for workers is a good thing, yet what’s more important in the difficult time is to maintain jobs and to create new jobs, he stressed.

Cambodia last week set a new monthly minimum wage for workers in the garment, footwear and travel goods sector at US$204 for next year, up from US$200 in 2023, and US$194 in 2022.