"Unions negotiate for $22.20 increase to minimum wage for 2022", 6 September 2021

Union representatives are urging an increase of $22.20 to the minimum wage for 2022, following renewed growth in exports of garment and footwear showing apparent recovery from the shocks of the pandemic on industry.

The raise brings the minimum wage requested by union representatives to $214.20. …, unionists will make their case for the increase in the National Council Minimum Wage (NCMW), a three-party negotiation platform consisting of representatives from unions, the Ministry of Labour and the industry group Garment Manufacturers’ Association in Cambodia (GMAC).

Union representatives say the $22.20 figure was calculated using seven criteria including cost of living, inflation, labor productivity, national competition, factory incomes and labor market factors.

Pav Sina, president of the Collective Union of Movement of Worker, said union working groups have found that workers now have a higher cost of living, due in part to inflation growth of 3 percent.

“What we have found is based on science and society [and] has followed the ministry’s criteria,” Sina told …

… Far Saly, president of Trade Unions Coalition, echoed Sina in regards to rising inflation and expanded costs of living related to food, home rentals and support family’s members.

“We think it is necessary to raise the minimum wage of workers,” he said. “There is better competition related to exporting garment and footwear, including beneficial [conditions for] employers.”

... But Kaing Monika, GMAC deputy secretary-general, said demands for a greater than 11 percent increase by unions during an ongoing pandemic is absolutely not appropriate.

“It’s economically wrong and definitely scares off existing investors and potential investors,” he said ....