The ministry has scheduled a fourth tripartite meeting on September 21, with final negotiations to be held on September 23.

The latest range in negotiations for next year’s monthly minimum wage for Cambodia’s textile-related sectors is expected to rise to just below $200, the labour and vocational training ministry recently said. Based on seven socio-economic criteria for determining the minimum wage, a minimum wage of $197.86 has been arrived at till now, it said.

After three internal meetings, worker representatives reduced their proposed rate from $215 to $213. And after two internal meetings, employers raised their figure to $196 from $194—this year’s minimum wage, Cambodian media reported.

The National Council on Minimum Wage (NCMW) resumed discussions on the minimum wage for the textile, garment, footwear, bags, travel goods and similar sectors on August 31.

The council comprises officials from the labour ministry, factory owner representatives, industry stakeholders and workers’ representatives from civil society organisations and trade unions.

In 2021, after the NCMW had voted to keep the 2022 minimum wage unchanged from $192, Prime Minister Hun Sen stepped in to add $2 to the total.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)