Cambodia Sets 2027 Minimum Wage At US$ 212 For Garment, Textile Workers
Cambodia has set the minimum monthly wage for workers and employees in the textile, garment, footwear, travel goods and bag-making industries at US$ 212 for 2027, following a decision by the government after negotiations between employers and workers’ representatives.
The figure was finalised on September 30 after the National Council on Minimum Wage voted on proposals submitted by the two sides. Employers had proposed retaining the current minimum wage at US$ 210, while most worker representatives sought an increase to US$ 225.
The US$ 210 proposal secured 47 of the council’s 51 votes. However, Prime Minister Hun Manet subsequently decided to add US$ 2 to the amount supported by the majority, taking the minimum wage for 2027 to US$ 212.
Hun Manet said he had closely followed the wage negotiations since early September through regular reports from Labour and Vocational Training Minister Heng Sour, who also chairs the National Council on Minimum Wage.
He said the additional US$ 2 was decided after considering the positions of both employers and workers, as well as provisions under Cambodia’s minimum wage law.
In addition to the basic minimum wage, workers in the sector will continue to receive various allowances and benefits, including transport and accommodation allowances, attendance bonuses, meal allowances for voluntary overtime and seniority payments.
The government will also continue a temporary US$ 2.50 monthly allowance towards transportation and accommodation costs in 2027, according to Hun Manet.
With the minimum wage and applicable allowances and benefits taken into account, the total basic monthly remuneration for workers is expected to range between US$ 231.50 and US$ 242.50 in 2027.
However, labour groups have criticised the increase, saying it falls well short of workers’ actual living costs.
Seang Rithy, president of the Cambodian Youth Power Union Federation (CYPUF), said workers needed a minimum monthly wage of at least US$ 250.66 to maintain a decent standard of living, based on union data and research.
He said the US$ 2 increase was significantly below the amount required to meet workers’ living expenses and described the decision as a serious insult to the labour and sacrifices of workers, whom he called the backbone of the national economy.
Yang Sophorn, president of the Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions (CATU), also expressed disappointment over the decision, saying it was considerably lower than workers’ expectations. Unions had called for a minimum monthly wage of US$ 250 to reflect rising living costs.
“When workers’ wages do not keep pace with actual market inflation, they face even greater pressure on their household finances and have to cope with higher expenses. I believe that in the coming year, workers will face even greater challenges and more difficulties than before,” she said.
The demand for a higher minimum wage had also received support from civil society organisations. On September 18, 125 local civil society organisations issued a joint statement backing the unions’ proposal to raise the minimum wage to $250.66 a month in 2027.
The organisations said the proposed increase was necessary to help workers meet their living expenses and other basic needs amid rising costs.
Cambodia’s textile, garment, footwear and travel goods industries remain among the country’s major sources of employment and export earnings, making wage levels a key issue for both workers and manufacturers as the sector faces pressure over production costs, competitiveness and international market conditions.
