Unions making demands for an increase in wages in the Kingdom’s garment industry must agree on a figure before a meeting on February 26, Minister of Social Affairs Ith Sam Heng said yesterday.

In the past month, the Cambodian Confederation of Unions has demanded the government lift the minimum wage from $61 to $150, while the Free Trade Union has called for a $120 minimum wage.

A meeting involving industry stakeholders yesterday was designed to discuss these demands, but ended with Sam Heng issuing a statement calling another meeting,

“It was agreed in principle to discuss a minimum wage increase for workers,” he said in the statement.

“All trade unions should try to reach unity in order to negotiate with the employers. The working group will meet again on February 26 to decide on a minimum wage rise.”

Ath Thorn, president of the Cambodian Labour Confederation, said that if a pay rise was agreed to at the meeting, it would be approved by the Labour Advisory committee a week later.

 

To contact the reporter on this story: Mom Kunthear at [email protected]