Cambodia Minimum Wage Talks Begin, Multiple Sessions Scheduled

Negotiations for setting the minimum wage for 2027 have officially commenced in Cambodia. The initial meeting of the National Minimum Wage Council, held on the afternoon of September 1st, did not present any new wage figures. However, tripartite representatives from the labor, employer, and government sectors agreed to hold four additional sessions to reach a consensus. Minister of Labour and Vocational Training, Heng Sour, informed reporters that subsequent meetings are scheduled for the morning of September 14th, the afternoon of September 18th, the morning of September 28th, and the final session on the morning of September 30th. These discussions are intended to determine the new wage rates for workers in the garment and textile, footwear, travel goods, and bag manufacturing industries for 2027. According to Heng Sour, during the meeting of the National Minimum Wage Council, 4th mandate, 2nd year, held this afternoon, statistical data concerning seven socio-economic indicators was presented to serve as a basis for the minimum wage negotiations. Each party has agreed to use the statistics and information from this presentation for internal discussions to establish a common stance for the upcoming meetings. The meeting of the National Minimum Wage Council commenced on the afternoon of September 1st, 2026, with the participation of tripartite representatives to discuss and set the minimum wage for workers in the garment and textile, footwear, and travel goods and bag manufacturing sectors for 2027. The session was led by Heng Sour, Minister of Labour and Vocational Training and Chairman of the National Minimum Wage Council, with attendance from representatives of the government, labor, and employer sectors. Relevant parties anticipate that the current wage negotiation process will proceed smoothly and yield positive results, drawing on years of experience, for the benefit of the workers, ensuring mutual acceptance. For reference, the minimum wage for workers in 2026 stands at $210 per month, a $2 increase compared to $208 in 2025.