In Cambodia, the solution to the minimum wage issue for garment sector is still not very clear, employers are saying that they would propose a raise to the minimum wage – reversing their prior position – but would not specify a figure. Unions have failed to reach a consensus as some want to propose a minimum wage of US $ 207 at the committee negotiations and others want to go into the negotiations with a proposed raise of only 10 or 15 per cent.
Meanwhile, the Ministry has warned unions that if they fail to reach a consensus on a new minimum wage ahead Labour Advisory Committee meeting, the committee would not consider any proposal from the unions. Unions would lose their right to propose a raise if all (7) union leaders on the 28-member committee could not agree on a figure.
According to the researchers, median take-home pay of garment workers including overtime, bonuses and allowances is US $ 191 and that median spending – including the money workers send home to their families is US $ 207.