Cambodia's GMAC urges suspension of minimum wage talks

25 Jun '20

2 min read

Pic: Shutterstock

The Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) recently urged the ministry of labour and vocational training to delay the 2021 minimum wage negotiations, arguing that the 2020 wage levels should remain intact as the sector is vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic. The textile, garment and footwear sectors are fragile and a return to normal will take a long time, it said.

Moreover, many factories have suspended operations and some are closing, and therefore, support in the form of delaying the negotiations is necessary to help stabilise the sector, a GMAC statement said.

The ministry issued a notification on June 10 on the schedule of minimum wage negotiations in the textile, garment and footwear sector for 2021, scheduled to take place from July to September. A ministry spokesperson, however, said the negotiations will continue as scheduled without any delay.

“The law requires a gathering, so we have to gather. The law doesn’t say that the wage has to be raised every year – it could be raised, stay the same or be reduced based on changes in seven criteria of the set minimum wage,” he was quoted as saying by Cambodian media reports.

The Collective Union of Movement of Workers is worried that in future workers will suffer even more if the new year minimum wage is not raised and other benefits are also reduced.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

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