Phnom Penh: The minimum wage for garment workers in Cambodia is higher than that of competing countries in the region, including Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Laos, Pakistan, and India. This was stated by Mr. Heng Sour, Minister of Labor and Vocational Training, on the occasion of celebrating the 140th anniversary of International Labor Day, May 1, at the Koh Pich Convention and Exhibition Center recently.
The Minister stated: “The minimum wage for 2026 The Prime Minister’s additional allowance has increased to $210 per month. If combined with other mandatory benefits, the wages of garment workers (Cambodia) are at least $227 to $240 per month, while the minimum wage in Sri Lanka is only $97, Myanmar $97, Bangladesh $102, Laos $116, Pakistan $143, India $132 to $192, Vietnam from $148 to $212, Indonesia from $138 to $340.”
To the Minister of Labor, in addition to the ongoing basic wage increases for workers, the Ministry of Labor, which is the executive branch of the Royal Government, has also opened negotiations with the private sector and unions to provide a temporary travel allowance of $2.50 to workers in the context of the global oil crisis, making Cambodia the only country in the region that has provided additional travel allowance to workers.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training, Mr. Sun Mesa, on May 5, 2026, highlighted that in addition to the basic wage, the average worker in the garment sector earns approximately $300 plus overtime until 6 p.m. because workers in Cambodia currently receive money, health benefits, work accident and experience benefits, and many other benefits that are better than the law.
