Cambodia Condemns Thai Military Attack on Preah Vihear Temple | Cambodia Confirms Troops Still Holding Mount Trop as Thailand Cannot Raise Flag on Sovereign Territory | Cambodia and Thailand Clashes Enter Third Day as Casualties Rise to 33 | UN Security Council Urges Restraint as Thailand-Cambodia Clashes Intensify | Cambodia Condemns Thai Aggression at UN, Calls for Ceasefire and International Intervention | Techo Hun Sen Advises Military Strategy Amidst Border Clashes with Thailand | 45 Staff Rescued After Being Trapped at Preah Vihear Temple Amidst Clashes | BREAKING: Cambodia Denies Firing Projectiles into Laos, Accuses Thailand of Disinformation | Cambodia's Tourism Ministry Seeks Aid for Troops, Refugees; Reaffirms Commitment to Peace | BREAKING: Laos Denies Border Clash with Cambodia; Cambodia Rejects Thai Accusations of Shelling Laos | BREAKING NEWS: Andrew MacGregor Marshall Claims Queen Mother Sirikit Has Died, Alleging Concealment by Thai Authorities | TOP NEWS: Trump Claims Diplomatic Role in Cambodia-Thailand Border Conflict, Calls for Ceasefire | TOP NEWS: Cambodian Prime Minister Confirms President Donald Trump Ceasefire Agreement with Thailand | Thai Military of Escalating Attacks, Despite Cambodia Ceasefire Efforts |
Cambodia Condemns Thai Military Attack on Preah Vihear Temple | Cambodia Confirms Troops Still Holding Mount Trop as Thailand Cannot Raise Flag on Sovereign Territory | Cambodia and Thailand Clashes Enter Third Day as Casualties Rise to 33 | UN Security Council Urges Restraint as Thailand-Cambodia Clashes Intensify | Cambodia Condemns Thai Aggression at UN, Calls for Ceasefire and International Intervention | Techo Hun Sen Advises Military Strategy Amidst Border Clashes with Thailand | 45 Staff Rescued After Being Trapped at Preah Vihear Temple Amidst Clashes | BREAKING: Cambodia Denies Firing Projectiles into Laos, Accuses Thailand of Disinformation | Cambodia's Tourism Ministry Seeks Aid for Troops, Refugees; Reaffirms Commitment to Peace | BREAKING: Laos Denies Border Clash with Cambodia; Cambodia Rejects Thai Accusations of Shelling Laos | BREAKING NEWS: Andrew MacGregor Marshall Claims Queen Mother Sirikit Has Died, Alleging Concealment by Thai Authorities | TOP NEWS: Trump Claims Diplomatic Role in Cambodia-Thailand Border Conflict, Calls for Ceasefire | TOP NEWS: Cambodian Prime Minister Confirms President Donald Trump Ceasefire Agreement with Thailand | Thai Military of Escalating Attacks, Despite Cambodia Ceasefire Efforts |

PM Says $4 per Month Wage Increase Should Be Celebrated

PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Manet said that the recent $4 per month increase in the minimum wage took place in a difficult world economy and should be celebrated. Last week an agreement was reached to raise the minimum wage for factory workers from $200/month to $204/month, falling short of the labor union’s initial demands for $215.

In a gathering of nearly 20,000 workers in Phnom Penh on October 3, the PM tried to explain that too much of a raise will make Cambodia less competitive in global trade and noted that factory workers in other competing countries make even less than they do. He said that employers and employees must maintain the balance of investment in businesses and attract more investment.

"This is the spirit-that we must live together. More or less, we share to live,” he said. He then compared the working economy to keeping pots in the kitchen full of food, “We maintain the pots, add rice to the pots and find opportunities to expand so that more factories can be opened so that our brothers and sisters can have jobs," he said.

He went on to thank the employees and workers who participated in the salary discussions.

Starting in 2024, factory workers will receive an additional $4 per month. This means that if an employee works 50 hours per week, they receive an extra two cents per hour. The decision was made upon the September 28 deadline after 20 meetings of a committee of representatives for unions, employers and the government. While unions initially asked for $215, they eventually lowered their offer to $213. Employers’ final offer, which won a vote of 46-5, was $202 which the government raised to $204. The remaining five votes stayed fast at $213.

The garment, footwear and travel goods industry is the largest foreign exchange earner for Cambodia. The sector consists of roughly 1,077 factories and branches, employing approximately 800,000 workers, mostly female.



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