Cambodia News

Cambodia’s 2027 minimum wage talks end another round without agreement

September 18, 2026Event date

For workers and factory operators, the talks now provide a range of possible outcomes rather than a confirmed payroll figure. As of September 21, none of the higher amounts under discussion is the legal minimum for 2027.

Worker and employer positions remain far apart

Employer representatives kept their proposal unchanged at $210 per month. Most worker representatives supported an increase of $15.30, which would bring the minimum to $225.30, while another group has pushed for a figure around $250.60, with a civil-society statement supporting $250.66. Those numbers describe negotiating positions, not an adopted wage. Labour Minister Heng Sour, who chairs the National Council on Minimum Wage, has pointed to weak external conditions and competitiveness concerns, while unions and supporting organisations argue that household expenses, debt and living costs have outgrown the current base wage.

For practical context, see Cambodia economy and finance. This development also connects with Cambodia and Thailand agree maritime confidence measures.

The negotiations cover specific export manufacturing sectors

The process concerns workers in textiles, garments, footwear, travel goods and bags. It should not be interpreted as a nationwide minimum-wage change for every employee in Cambodia.

The current $210 figure is the 2026 minimum for the covered sectors. Actual take-home pay can be higher because of overtime and other payments, so a change in the statutory base would not translate one-for-one into the same increase in every worker’s monthly income.

Late-September meetings will determine the next step

The council scheduled another tripartite discussion for September 28. The September negotiating calendar published earlier also includes a meeting on September 30.

Until those talks are completed and an official rate is adopted, businesses planning 2027 labour costs need to work with more than one scenario. Workers should likewise treat $225.30 and the roughly $250.60 proposal as negotiating figures rather than money they can already count on receiving next year.

Sources

DAP News — National Council on Minimum Wage meeting on the 2027 rate — September 18, 2026.
CamboJA News — Employers Hold Firm at $210 in Third Round of 2027 Minimum Wage Talks — September 19, 2026.
CENTRAL — joint statement supporting a $250.66 minimum wage proposal for 2027 — September 18, 2026.
Gazette Khmer — Cambodian union backs $250 minimum wage demand for garment workers — September 4, 2026.