Phnom Penh: After the talks on the morning of September 11, the unions still maintain their position in setting the 2024 wage figure at $215, while the employer side still maintains the figure of $201, and the next round of talks will be held at September 18, bringing the expectations for today's discussion that there is a common ground not yet in place, leaving expectations for the next round of talks.

The National Minimum Wage Council, which has unions representing workers, employers and the government as a mediator, on September 11 resumed its fourth round of discussions on setting the minimum wage for workers in 2024.

Despite the difficult economic situation around the world, the negotiation of the minimum wage for workers in Cambodia for 2024 can still go smoothly, and the results of the negotiations between the relevant parties, with the unions representing the workers. Requested a wage figure of $215, while the employer asked for an additional $1 plus $200 of the existing wage.

Until now, the government, which is the mediator, has not set any wage figures, and unions say the necessary wage increase should reflect the inflation of goods in the market. Wages do not meet daily expenses; workers still inevitably face subsistence.

On September 4, after concluding the third round of minimum wage talks, Pav Sina president of CUMW said, "Therefore, if any increase does not reflect the commodity market, inflation means that workers' wages still facing problem, it does not respond if the increase does not reach inflation. That is why I say that if we do not think about these points, workers will face more problems than the challenges of the employers. I would like to see this negotiation be able to respond to both parties if the employers have a rise equivalent to market goods it is better and I think the government will also have a mechanism to alleviate the difficulties as well as the concerns of the employers."

Through the negotiation of the minimum wage for workers in 2024, Pav Sina said that the negotiation of the minimum wage for workers in 2024 is more difficult than the negotiations held last year due to the unfavorable economic situation in the world. In particular, the war between Russia and Ukraine, which negatively affected Cambodia, as well as all countries in the world.

"For me the wage increase this year was more difficult than last year because of the bad situation between Russia and Ukraine, which has had a negative impact on Cambodia, and this negative impact does not affect only Cambodia," he said. indeed all countries are affected, so at this point, despite the difficulties, the union side is still continuing negotiations to have the best possible review of any level of wage increase for workers.

It should be noted that the third round of wage negotiations of the National Minimum Wage Council, which was held on August 4, the union side proposed a wage figure for 2024 of $215 and the employer side proposed only $201. Only the Royal Government has not yet released any figures.