Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Gov’t boosts salaries of civil servants, armed forces

Gov’t boosts salaries of civil servants, armed forces

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Civil servants and other officials attend an event in January in Phnom Penh. SPM

Gov’t boosts salaries of civil servants, armed forces

Accoording to the 2023 national budget, the government will allocate around $2.3 billion to increases in the salaries of civil servants, medics, teachers, officials and members of the armed forces, with the minimum salary of more than 1.1 million riel ($260) bumped up to more than 1.3 million riel.

The minimum salaries of contract officials will be increased to 710,000 riel, their first pay increase since before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

At a recent public forum on “Macroeconomic Management and Budget Law 2023”, Ministry of Economy and Finance secretary of state Vongsey Visoth said that 2022 marked a difficult year for Cambodia as it was a year of slow growth.

However, this year the government is still increasing spending in some key sectors, especially for the increase in salaries for civil servants.

“This year, spending on education and health has increased. The salaries of civil servants generally increase by 10 per cent. Pensions also increase, with older civil servants who were receiving low pensions due to their low salaries now receiving more,” he said.

Royal Academy of Cambodia economics researcher Ky Sereyvath said that the increase in the salaries of civil servants is a fiscal policy to boost growth. Although the burden is small, it could promote economic growth and tax revenues.

“As the salaries increase, so does the payroll tax. It means that if the government injects, say, $100 million into civil servants’ salaries, it could increase a hypothetical $300 million contribution to the country’s GDP up to $500 million,” he said.

From January 2023, the government increased the minimum salary of civil servants from 1.17 million riel to 1.30 million riel. The minimum salaries of teachers and medics were increased from 1.27 million riel to 1.40 million riel. The salaries of police have been increased from 1.25 million to 1.38 million riel. The salaries of soldiers with the rank of private have been increased from 1.12 million to 1.25 million riel.

MOST VIEWED

  • Joy as Koh Ker Temple registered by UNESCO

    Cambodia's Koh Ker Temple archaeological site has been officially added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 17. The ancient temple, also known as Lingapura or Chok Gargyar, is located in

  • Famed US collector family return artefacts to Cambodia

    In the latest repatriation of ancient artefacts from the US, a total of 33 pieces of Khmer cultural heritage will soon return home, according to the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. In a September 12 press statement, it said the US Attorney’s Office for the

  • Tina rebuffs ‘false claims’ over falling paddy price

    Agriculture minister Dith Tina has shed light on the trade of paddy rice in Battambang – Cambodia’s leading rice-producing province – in a bid to curb what he dubs a “social media fact distortion campaign” to destabilise the market. While acknowledging that the prices of paddy

  • Kampot curfew imposed to curb ‘gang’ violence

    Kampot provincial police have announced measures to contain a recent spike in antisocial behaviour by “unruly’ youth. Officials say the province has been plagued by recent violence among so-called “gang members”, who often fight with weapons such as knives and machetes. Several social observers have

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • PM outlines plans to discuss trade, policy during US visit

    Prime Minister Hun Manet is set to meet with senior US officials and business leaders during his upcoming visit to the US for the UN General Assembly (UNGA), scheduled for September 20. While addressing nearly 20,000 workers in Kampong Speu province, Manet said he aims to affirm