Fashion
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)
By
Europa Press
Translated by
Nazia BIBI KEENOO
Published
September 10, 2025
The CEO of Inditex, Óscar García Maceiras, has highlighted the “acceleration” of store and online sales at the beginning of the third quarter, the “solid performance” of the group, with “satisfactory” sales in “a complex environment” and the “significant” growth opportunities.
“It is obvious that we are seeing a positive evolution throughout the year. We remain confident about the year ahead and, as always, we are focused on increasing the differentiation of the business model,” said the CEO of Inditex at a conference with analysts to present its results.
García Maceiras highlighted the “strong” start to the second half of this year and noted that the autumn/winter collections have been “very well received” by its customers. Thus, store and online sales at constant exchange rates between August 1 and September 7, 2025, have grown by 9% compared to the same period in 2024, reflecting, he said, an “acceleration” in sales.
Inditex recorded a net profit of 2,791 million euros during the first half of its fiscal year 2025–2026 (between February 1 and July 31), an increase of 0.8% compared to a year earlier, as reported Wednesday by the group, which again achieved new records with its results, although with more moderate growth.
Sales, meanwhile, grew by 1.6% compared to the first half of 2024, reaching € 18.357 billion, with a satisfactory evolution in both stores and online channels. Sales at constant exchange rates grew by 5.1%.
“We have achieved a solid performance in the first half of fiscal 2025, with satisfactory sales in a complex market environment and maintaining solid levels of profitability. The efficient execution of our teams demonstrates the strength of Inditex’s business model,” García Maceiras stressed.
“This business model continues to be driven by our unique fashion proposition and an increasingly optimized customer experience, our focus on sustainability and quality, and the commitment of our teams. These factors continue to enhance our competitive differentiation,” he added.
García Maceiras insisted that the group’s results highlight that the execution of the business model has also been “solid,” which is reflected in the “good performance” of the gross margin and “disciplined” cost control.
“Our diversified presence in 214 markets, coupled with relatively low penetration in most of them, reinforces our conviction that we have significant global growth opportunities ahead of us. This confidence is because we have a unique model,” he emphasized.
With a view to Inditex’s long-term growth potential, the company has planned investments in the current year that will expand its capabilities, generate efficiencies, and increase its competitive differentiation.
The company has stated that store optimization remains on track and expects this to drive further productivity improvements. It also anticipates annual gross space growth in the 2025–2026 period to be around 5%, accompanied by positive net space and “strong” online sales.
At current exchange rates, it anticipates a currency impact of approximately 4% negative on sales in 2025. In 2025, Inditex expects a stable gross margin (+/-50 basis points).
United States and United Kingdom, “very relevant” markets
“We continue to see good additional opportunities to expand our presence in new markets,” said Inditex’s CEO, who highlighted, among others, that the United States and the United Kingdom are “very relevant” markets for the group.
Regarding the United States, the company continues to see opportunities to execute its “selective growth” strategy, with initiatives that are “very relevant” for next year, including remodeling emblematic stores, such as the one on Fifth Avenue in New York, as well as new openings.
“We continue to explore new opportunities in the market for our different formats,” said García Maceiras, who also assured that the group will continue to be “very active” in the United Kingdom, where he sees “very good opportunities” to continue growing both with Zara and the other concepts in different locations.
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Shoppers can expect a curated selection of Topshop’s most-loved pieces, including cult denim styles, statement jackets, and trend-led wardrobe staples. Topman will offer a focused edit of modern menswear essentials, from tailored outerwear to everyday basics, designed to elevate any look.
Topshop and Topman will expand their UK retail presence through a February 2026 partnership with John Lewis.
Topshop will feature in 32 stores, while Topman will launch in 6, offering curated womenswear and menswear edits.
Leaders from both brands highlighted the collaboration as a milestone, blending fashion-forward collections with John Lewis’ trusted service and strengthening high-street retail.
“We’re excited to partner with John Lewis, a trusted name in British retail, to bring Topshop and Topman to high streets across the country,” said Michelle Wilson, Managing Director at Topshop. “This partnership is a key step in our mission to bring the best of fashion to everyone, engaging with shoppers in real life and delivering the style and quality they expect from our brands.”
Peter Ruis, Managing Director of John Lewis, commented: “Bringing Topshop and Topman back to high streets across the UK is a landmark moment, and we are thrilled to be their only nationwide store partner. It’s the ultimate proof of our strategy: offering the most-loved brands alongside the unwavering trust of our brand promise. I grew up with these incredible brands. They have defined our high streets, bringing edge and accessibility with an iconic British lens.”
The launch will introduce a fresh in-store experience that blends Topshop and Topman’s fashion-forward identity with the quality and service customers experience at John Lewis.
Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RM)
By
Reuters
Translated by
Nazia BIBI KEENOO
Published
September 10, 2025
The Armani Group confirms the regular conduct of the Emporio Armani and Giorgio Armani fashion shows, which will present the latest collections designed by the designer on the runway. This was announced by the group. The public opening of the exhibition at the Pinacoteca di Brera, originally planned for Wednesday, September 24, remains unchanged.
The smooth running of the fashion shows and the opening of the exhibition, which Giorgio Armani worked on until the end, “testify to the company’s commitment to continue under the sign of dedication, respect, and attention to work, qualities that have always distinguished Mr. Armani and which he himself imparted to all his collaborators over the years.”
Meanwhile, anticipation is growing by the hour for the designer’s will. The timing is not yet defined, but according to available information, the window for reading the last will stretches from today until next Wednesday: any day could be the day.
Handling the procedure is Milanese notary Elena Terrenghi, tasked with initiating the succession process. A summarized abstract of the death certificate is required to open the succession — a document that usually takes up to 15 days to issue — but the timeframe could be shortened given the importance of the case and the interest involved.
Giorgio Armani, who passed away on September 4 at the age of 91, had no children or spouse, and in the absence of “necessary” legitimate heirs according to Italian law, was able to dispose of his estate independently. During his lifetime, the designer had already prepared and secured bylaws for the group, divided into six categories of shares, with a central role entrusted to the Armani Foundation.
The people called by the notary for the reading of the will, barring any surprises, will be his sister Rosanna Armani; his nieces Silvana and Roberta Armani, daughters of his late brother Sergio; and Andrea Camerana, Rosanna’s son. Also included is Leo Dell’Orco, Armani’s life partner and right-hand man. All five already sit on the Group’s board of directors, with Dell’Orco designated as the coordinator of the select committee that will steer the company until the new corporate structure takes effect. Camerana and the Armani cousins represent the family component of the board, alongside other key managers such as Yoox founder Federico Marchetti and Rothschild banker Irving Bellotti.
The bylaws, updated in 2023, provide for a division into six categories of shares, each with differentiated voting and governance rights, but equal economic rights. A shares (30% of the capital) and F shares (10%) will carry decisive weight: the former are worth 1.33 votes each, the latter 3. Thus, while holding only 40% of the capital, shareholders holding categories A and F will control more than 53% of the votes in the assembly and will be able to appoint a majority of the board of directors, including the chairman and CEO.
The Armani Foundation is most likely to be the recipient of the A and F shares, thus centralizing strategic control of the group. Heirs and trusted associates may receive categories B to E, which hold the majority of the capital but not decision-making power alone. In addition to the corporate share, the will is also expected to regulate the allocation of a personal estate estimated at about €10 billion, which includes valuable real estate such as a penthouse in New York, the historic villa in Forte dei Marmi, and the Capannina, acquired by the group in late August — just days before the fashion designer’s passing.
The Capannina itself was one of the places dearest to Armani, where he met the love of his life, Sergio Galeotti, who died prematurely at age 40 in 1985. Meanwhile, the fashion shows scheduled for fashion week in two weeks are confirmed, featuring Emporio Armani and Giorgio Armani, as well as an exhibition dedicated to the 50-year history of the maison at the Pinacoteca di Brera.
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