PHNOM PENH: Cambodia's National Council on Minimum Wage on Wednesday began to discuss the annual increase of monthly minimum wage for the garment, footwear, and travel goods industry for 2024.

The meeting was chaired by Labour and Vocational Training Minister H.E. Ith Samheng, with the participation of representatives of the government, employees, and employers.

In the meeting, the first of a series of meetings, the trio parties presented key statistical updates on socio-economic criteria to form the basis for the minimum wage talks as well as input such as current inflation, competition, and market situation from the representatives of employers and employees.

Specific figures for the negotiations have not been proposed as they need further internal discussions.

The garment, footwear, and travel goods industry is the largest foreign exchange earner for Cambodia. The sector consists of roughly 1,077 factories and branches, employing approximately 800,000 workers, mostly female. Among the factories, there are 802 garment factories, 140 shoe factories, and 134 travel goods factories.

Cambodia exported US$6.27 billion worth of garment, footwear, and travel goods during the first seven months of this year, a decline from the US$7.89 billion exported during the same period last year, according to the trade data of the General Department of Customs and Excise.

The monthly minimum wage for the sector is US$200 in 2023, up from US$194 in 2022. AKP