No breakthrough in new talks for Cambodian minimum wage increase

16 October 2014
Radio Free Asia
Civil society / Economic policy and administration / Garments and textiles / Government / Human rights / Industries / Labor / Labor policy and administration / Ministries and other national bodies / Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training / Social development / Unions
Collective Union of Movement of Workers / CUMW / European Union aid / Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia / GMAC / Heng Sour / Ith Sam Heng / Labor Advisory Committee / LAC / LICADHO / Ministry of Labor / Pav Sina / Seang Sambath / WFUF / Worker Friendship Union Federation

Cambodian authorities have held two rounds of talks with garment factory owners and unions under a new mechanism to help break a deadlock over increasing the workers’ monthly minimum wage but to no avail.

But Labor Minister Ith Sam Heng said that he expected the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC), which represents the factories, and the unions to find common ground when negotiations resume Monday. …

The garment workers’ unions have mostly agreed to accept a new minimum monthly wage of U.S. $150 effective next year—U.S. $27 less than they originally wanted, but U.S. $50 more than the current sum.

But the GMAC has said it can only raise the monthly minimum wage to U.S. $110 and provide an attendance bonus of U.S. $10 and U.S. $7 for transportation and housing. …

 Roseanne Gerin
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/working-group-10162014181856.html