The minimum monthly wage for apparel and footwear workers in Cambodia was raised on Jan. 1 by 28 percent to US$128, below the $160 level that had been requested by the labor unions. According to the International Labor Organization, the raise may trigger an increase of between 2.4 and 3.0 percent in the wholesale price of garments produced in the country. However, observers feel that this will be offset by the recent drop in the price of cotton and petrol. The new minimum wage compares with $61 three years ago, but is only slightly above the poverty line, calculated at $120. Big strikes led to an increase from $80 to $100 a year ago. The number of working days lost by strikes in the Cambodian garment industry fell by 40.6 percent in 2014.

Topics