Cambodian Workers Desire Wage Hikes But Urge Moderate Increases, Prioritizing Job Security and Creation

Cambodian workers have expressed their support for a minimum wage increase for the upcoming year. However, they are requesting that the increase be maintained at a reasonable level, taking into account the economic situation and labor market, to ensure the preservation of existing jobs and the promotion of new employment opportunities for citizens. Some workers employed in factories in Phnom Penh stated that while an increase in wages is a desire for workers, the adjustment should align with the actual situation and the capacity of enterprises to avoid impacting job retention. Ms. Thun Sreypov, a factory worker, said, "As a worker, I truly want a wage increase, but I ask for it to be reasonable. I don't want a salary that increases excessively. If we demand too much beyond the company's capacity, and the factory closes, we will all lose our jobs and have no income." Another worker, Mr. Krim Him, commented, "I want the basic salary to be higher, but if it's too much and affects the company, I don't want it. We need to find a way to cooperate and increase wages to a level that both the company and the workers can accept." Concurrently, some workers have expressed concerns that a wage increase exceeding the capacity of enterprises could increase their operational costs and impact job retention. Mr. Tai Veng Sieng stated, "If we demand too high a wage increase, and the company closes, we won't be able to find any other work, as it is very difficult to find jobs nowadays." Ms. Mao Sina also requested that wage increases be based on capacity and kept at a reasonable level, saying, "I worry that an excessively high increase might lead to factory closures, which would leave me jobless." According to the law on minimum wage, the determination of the minimum wage is based on seven key social and economic criteria to ensure appropriateness and responsiveness to the actual situation. The setting of wages also aims to ensure a decent income for employees while maintaining the competitiveness of enterprises and protecting employment opportunities in the labor market. Source: Kampuchea Thmey Local