Phnom Penh: The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training has issued a proclamation to increase the garment and footwear workers minimum wage by $2 starting next year making it to $194 from $190. The announcement was made after a meeting of the National Minimum Wage Council, a tripartite mechanism with 17 members representing the workers 'side, 17 representatives of the employers' side and 17 representatives of the Royal Government. On Tuesday, stakeholders voted for the proposed minimum wages of $ 188, $ 192 and $204. The amount of 192 got the most votes - 45 votes out of 51.

The Ministry of Labour says, the National Minimum Wage Council has requested a figure of $192 but Prime Minister Hun Sen decided to add an additional $2 amid of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Ministry has stated, “According to the report of the Minister of Labor and Vocational Training and in the context of the spread of Covid-19 disease, which is having a negative impact on the economy and society, especially on the health and well-being of the people; the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia Hun Sen, has decided to add $2 to the voted $192. Therefore, from 1 January 2022, workers in the textile, garment, footwear and travel and bag industries will have a minimum wage of $194 per month for full-time workers and $192 a month for probationary workers."

In addition, other benefits that workers have received in the past have been retained, such as travel and accommodation expenses of $7 per month, and regular work allowance of $10 per month. One month meal allowance of $0.50 per day for voluntary overtime work or free meal time, and seniority bonus from $2 to $11 per person for workers who worked from two to 11 years of service. Thus, on average, each worker will receive a salary of at least $211 to $222 per month.