Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Second tripartite wage meet sees no progress

Second tripartite wage meet sees no progress

Garment industry officials attend a meeting at the Ministry of Labour in Phnom Penh yesterday to negotiate the minimum wage.
Garment industry officials attend a meeting at the Ministry of Labour in Phnom Penh yesterday to negotiate the minimum wage. Lay Samean

Second tripartite wage meet sees no progress

The Labour Ministry will hold another tripartite meeting for wage negotiations on Wednesday after yesterday’s meeting produced no results, as both employers and unions held firm on their demands.

Though the second meeting between the government, employer representatives and trade unions ended in a stalemate, officials were still upbeat about bridging the more than $30 gap between the unions’ and employers’ wage demands.

“We will meet and have more discussions to find a solution on September 28,” said ministry spokesman Heng Sour. “I will also meet with the two sides to try and make the gap smaller.”

Sour added that the three parties would then vote on a wage figure that would be sent to the Labour Advisory Council (LAC) for a final decision.

Going into the discussions earlier this month, employer representatives had proposed a $144.20 wage for 2017, later increasing it to $146.37 during a bilateral meeting with unions. To reciprocate, unions agreed to drop their $179.60 demand by some $2 to $177.59.

Yang Sophorn, of the Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions, said she hoped that all three groups could forward individual requests to the LAC rather than just one figure. She said unions were reluctant to drop their proposal below $177.

Kaing Monika, of employers’ group the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia, said it was hard to find a consensus, adding that it was “impossible” to agree to anything higher than $146 a month.

MOST VIEWED

  • Tensions high ahead of historic Kun Khmer match up

    The long-awaited November 5 matchup between Kun Khmer legend Prum Samnang and Myanmar-Canadian boxer Dave Leduc has become the most anticipated fight of the year. The Wurkz Sena Kun Khmer promotion, which will be held at the Town Arena at Chip Mong 271 Megamall, will see six

  • Manet: Cambodia safe for travel

    Prime Minister Hun Manet acknowledged that Cambodia and China have cooperated to tackle internet scamming, fraud and other cross border crimes, but insisted that the “Kingdom of Wonders” is completely peaceful and safe. He welcomed tourists to come and explore its rich heritage. During a

  • UNESCO formally list Battambang gastronomy

    Battambang, renowned for its cultural heritage, has achieved a significant milestone as the first Cambodian municipality to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). The UCCN unites nearly 300 cities prioritising creativity and cultural industries in local development plans and international cooperation. On World Cities Day,

  • Cambodia pivots to solar, wind energy

    Cambodia is planning a move towards solar and wind energy to meet its rising power demands, according to Minister of Mines and Energy Keo Rottanak. On the sidelines of the Singapore International Energy Week event held recently, Rottanak emphasised the urgency of diversifying Cambodia’s

  • Angkor causeway symbol of Cambodia-Japan ties

    In a historic moment marking another milestone in the 70-year-long diplomatic relations between Cambodia and Japan, King Norodom Sihamoni celebrated the formal inauguration of a causeway located to the west of the world-renowned Angkor Wat. While presiding over the November 4 ceremony, the King emphasised the

  • Kep selected for ‘world-class’ 2.7km beach development

    Kep province has been selected as the first site of a new coastal development initiative, with a “world-class” 2.7km beach planned for the near future. The Kep Provincial Administration met with the National Committee for Coastal Management and Development to discuss the development of the