In a welcome move, garment and footwear unions in Cambodia have agreed to the demand of $179.60 as the minimum monthly wage for 2017. This will take the figure up almost a 30 per cent from this year’s wage of $140. The decision was taken during a weekend of talks organized by IndustriALL Global Union, FES and the American Center for International Labor Solidarity. Seventeen unions including IndustriALL affiliates took part in the discussions to determine the new wage demand that is based on living costs, inflation and social factors.
Ath Thorn, President of IndustriALL affiliate, the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers’ Democratic Union thinks this number is still not enough yet. But he agreed that a demand higher than this cannot be met because of the economic and political situation prevailing in the country. The garment and footwear industry in Cambodia employs more than 600,000 people and is the country’s biggest export sector. The next tripartite meetings on wages are scheduled for September 12 and 26.