PM Hun Sen: Cambodia Pushing for Minimum Wage for Construction Workers

• 14 December 2018
• Local News
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The Royal Government of Cambodia is pushing for a minimum wage for construction workers, according to Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

In a meeting with garment workers in Kampong Speu Province on 12 December 2018, SamdechTecho Hun Sen said that Cambodia will expand its minimum wage measure to other sectors, including the construction sector to reduce the problem of worker migration.

“We have to study each and everyone [priority sectors]…we can include construction companies to determine the minimum wage rate and the research must be conducted by construction companies first,” said SamdechTecho Hun Sen.

Notably, SamdechTecho Hun Sen’s remarks came after civil society organisations called for a minimum wage for construction workers.

In addition, H.E Heng Sour, spokesman for the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT) told Construction&Property Magazine that “in fact, we have started discussions with the International Labor Organization (ILO) that we should start expanding minimum wage to other sectors, and the second priority [sector] that uses alot of labour is the construction sector”.

“But before we start expanding this, we need the ILO to research the size of the market and the conditions, whether it’s the same as the garment sector,” he added.

For the research period, it may take about one year because relevant stakeholders will need to meet and discuss the ILO’s findings, he explained.

Meanwhile, this minimum wage policy has also been welcomed by some construction companies as it will further improve the standard of construction work in the country.

Mr Meas Proeksa, representative from Ly Chhuong Construction & Import Export welcomed the move. “We welcome the minimum wage…but at the same time, the important issue that companies face is the management of construction workers which is why many companies decide to hand it over to subcontractors to ensure good productivity,” he said.

“In terms of today’s salary for construction workers,for the companies, it is more than minimum … if the minimum is US$5 daily, the company gives 30,000 riel (about US$7.5), because the construction industry is growing fast, and the competition is very high,” he added.

According to data from the Ministry of Land Management Urban Planning and Construction (MLMUPC), the construction sector employs between 250,000 and 260,000 people each day.

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