"Joint Statement on the $2 Minimum Wage Rise for Workers in the Textile, Garment, Footwear, Travel Goods and Bag Sectors for 2022", 3 October 2021

We, as representatives of Cambodia’s independent labour movement and of tens of thousands of workers are extremely disappointed with the Prakas of the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training … which decided to add only an additional $2 to the previous $192 wage level as the minimum wage for workers in the textile, garment, footwear, travel goods and bag sectors for 2022. This raise will not allow workers to receive decent living wages to live with dignity as human beings and does not give them the ability to provide for the daily needs of themselves, their families or dependent elderly parents, causing them to continue living in poverty…

In the days following the conclusion of the negotiations and decision of the National Minimum Wage Council, a number of trade union federations and confederations have issued statements and congratulatory letters regarding the results of these negotiations contrary to the positions of workers and the figure which all trade unions had agreed on - $204. This exposes the lack of independence of these professional organisations in serving and protecting the interests of workers…

We, as representatives of the independent trade union movement, maintain our demands for employers and purchasing brands to provide a $214 minimum wage. We appeal to all workers to join in this campaign at the factory level by raising their messages on banners until we succeed... Many international brands have publicly promised to provide living wages to workers, but until today no international brand has provided these living wages, whilst international brands continue to profit from the blood and labour of Cambodian workers…