PHNOM PENH: There was no breakthrough in negotiations over Cambodia’s 2027 minimum wage for workers in the textile, garment, footwear and travel goods sectors on Friday (Sept 18), with the worker and employer sides maintaining the positions they put forward at a second meeting earlier this week.
According to a Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training statement on the outcome of the Sept 18 meeting, the third meeting of the fourth-term National Council on Minimum Wage on setting the minimum wage for factory workers in 2027.
The council has held eight meetings as part of the wage-setting process, including three tripartite meetings, one bilateral meeting between worker and employer representatives, three internal meetings among worker representatives and one internal meeting among employer representatives.
Government representatives are mediating the discussions, and provided explanations to both sides on the social and economic criteria used in determining the minimum wage.
According to the ministry, the majority of worker representatives called for a proposed increase of US$15.30, which would bring the monthly minimum wage to US$225.30, although some called for an increase of US$40.60, which would bring the wage to US$250.60.
Employer representatives, meanwhile, maintained that it was appropriate to keep the minimum wage at the current rate of $210 per month.
The next meeting is scheduled for Sept 28. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
