PHNOM PENH, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has officially set a new monthly minimum wage of 212 U.S. dollars for the garment, textile, footwear, and travel goods industry for 2027, Prime Minister Hun Manet announced on Wednesday.
The updated rate reflects a 2-dollar increase from the current baseline of 210 dollars. He shared the final figure across his official social media channels following a conclusive vote by the National Council for Minimum Wage.
Beyond the base salary, workers will continue to receive standard monthly fringe benefits. These include regular attendance bonuses, senior indemnity payouts, and allowances for housing and transportation.
The total take-home pay is further supported by a 2.5-dollar monthly travel allowance boost implemented earlier this year to cushion workers against rising transportation costs.
"Therefore, the 2027 base wage -- which includes the minimum wage and fringe benefits that workers in the garment, textile, footwear, and travel goods sector receive -- will range between 231.5 dollars and 242.5 dollars per month," Hun Manet said.
The updated wage structure will take effect on Jan. 1, 2027.
The garment, textile, footwear, and travel goods sector remains Cambodia's largest foreign currency earner. Data from the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training shows the industry encompasses more than 1,800 factories and branches, employing roughly 1.1 million workers, the vast majority of whom are women.
Cambodia exported 11.76 billion dollars worth of these goods between January and August 2026, marking a 7.2 percent increase from the 10.97 billion dollars recorded during the same period last year, the Ministry of Commerce data showed. ■
