Skip to main content
Home

Main menu

  • Home
  • Who we are
    • Who we are
      • ETI's origins
    • Our members
      • Public reporting performance
    • Governance
    • Our team
      • ETI Board members
  • What we do
    • What we do
    • Membership
    • ETI initiatives
    • Events
    • Training
      • All courses
      • Human rights essentials
      • Responsible purchasing practices training
      • Bespoke training
      • E-learning module: Access to remedy principles
  • Join ETI
  • ETI Base Code
    • ETI Base Code
    • 1. Employment is freely chosen
    • 2. Freedom of association
    • 3. Working conditions are safe and hygienic
    • 4. Child labour shall not be used
    • 5. Living wages are paid
    • 6. Working hours are not excessive
    • 7. No discrimination is practiced
    • 8. Regular employment is provided
    • 9. No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed
  • Insights
    • Insights
    • Blog
      • Blog series: Protecting workers in high-risk areas
      • Blog series: Advancing living wages
      • Blog series: Gender equity across supply chains
    • Resources
      • Case studies
    • Issues
      • Human rights due diligence
      • Company purchasing practices
        • Responsible purchasing practices in manufacturing
      • Gender equity
        • Violence and harrassment
        • Gender data initiative
        • Gender equality - international standards
        • Gender equality - resources
      • Supply chain transparency
      • Grievance mechanisms & remedy
      • Union rights at work
      • Migrant workers
      • Child labour
      • A living wage for workers
        • Living wage initiatives
        • Living wage resources
        • Living wage standards
        • Wages and purchasing theories
      • COVID-19
      • Modern slavery
        • Modern slavery and transparency standards
        • Modern slavery evaluation framework
        • Modern slavery initiatives
        • Modern slavery resources

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. insights
  3. blog

ETI responds to Cambodia's new minimum wage for garment workers

  • Peter McAllister
  • 1 October 2021

On 29 September, local Cambodian union leaders reluctantly agreed to accept an increase of just $2 to the $194 minimum wage for workers in the country’s garment sector.

This is well below the $204 wage that unions had sought, and even further from the $214 level that other campaigns were calling for. It is shocking to see that some employers were even calling for a reduction in the minimum wage level.

While COVID-19 has impacted economies worldwide, there is no doubt this impact has been felt hardest by those lowest paid and most vulnerable. As western markets bounce back and more regular consumption resumes, efforts must be made to ensure remuneration for workers along the supply chain progresses towards a living wage.

Minimum wages are a floor, not a ceiling. ETI would expect responsible brands to work with their suppliers and local unions to establish a clear plan to progress all wages towards a living wage. Even in an emerging economy like that of Cambodia’s, $194 does not enable a worker to meet their basic needs, let alone fully support their family and build resilience for the future. While this is an agreed minimum wage, we call on all responsible brands to demonstrate that they value the workers in their supply chain by ensuring that the factories from which they source pay a wage workers can live on.

Local union leaders stated that they “hope the minimum wage can be increased next year, when the pandemic is over”. ETI supports this call, and advises all responsible brands to leverage their relationships with suppliers and factories to make this hope a reality.

Stay up to date

Stay up to date with the latest from ETI via the following channels:
  • Email
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Blog RSS

Get the latest

Subscribe to our email newsletters and stay up to speed on ethical trade.
Subscribe

ETI elsewhere

  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube

Footer

  • ETI Community
  • Accessibility
  • Contact
  • FAQ
  • Jobs at ETI
  • Press resources
  • Security & privacy
Other ETIs: Bangladesh, Denmark, Norway, Sweden
Ethical Trading Initiative | Registered No. 3578127