Cambodian unions demand $232 minimum wage for textile workers in 2026

“This is not merely a request, it is an urgent necessity grounded in the real costs of survival for Cambodian workers and the demonstrated economic capacity of the country,” the organisations said in a joint press statement.

Cambodian trade unions and civil society groups are urging a rise in the 2026 minimum wage to $232, citing widening gaps between wages and living costs.
Studies show workers spend nearly double their income on essentials, with many trapped in debt.
While below the living wage, unions call the demand reasonable and vital.
The statement is backed by 27 organisations.

The demand highlighted the stark gap between wages and the cost of living. The Asia Floor Wage Alliance’s 2024 Consumption Survey found that workers spend an average of $408 per month on food and non-food needs, nearly double their income. As per research by the Anker Institute estimated Cambodia’s urban living wage at $232 per month in 2024, with households needing $417 to secure a decent standard of living. CNV Internationaal’s 2024 Fair Work Monitor finds a 41 per cent gap between average earnings and living costs, driving 73 per cent of workers into debt just to survive.

The signatories stressed that persistent wage-expenditure gap pushes workers further into debt, traps them in poverty, and forces them to compromise on food, healthcare, and education. They stated that it is unacceptable that the backbone of Cambodia’s economy—the garment and footwear workers—are denied the most basic conditions for a dignified life while the sector continues to attract global investment and deliver profits for brands and employers.

While research confirms that household expenses continue to surpass workers’ incomes, unions have put forward what they describe as a fair and balanced demand for 2026. They acknowledged that a minimum wage of $232 still falls short of covering the full cost of living, yet stress that it represents the essential adjustment required for the coming year.

“We call on the National Minimum Wage Council, the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, the Royal Government of Cambodia, and employers’ associations to recognise these undeniable realities and approve a new minimum wage of at least $232 for 2026,” added the statement.

The joint call has been endorsed by 27 organisations, including the Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions (CATU), Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC), Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO), Clean Clothes Campaign (Netherlands), Labour Behind the Label (UK), and Maquila Solidarity Network (Canada).

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)