Minister of Labour and Vocational Training Ith Sam Heng said in a directive on September 20 that the minimum wage for textiles, garment and shoe workers for 2020 is set at U$S190 per month, adding that the new wage takes effect in January.
The garment industry is Cambodia's largest employer, generating $7 billion for the economy each year. It faces uncertainty after the European Union (EU) in February began a process that could suspend the country's special trade preferences.
Cambodia benefits from the EU's "Everything But Arms" (EBA) trade programme, which allows the world's least-developed countries to export most goods to the EU free of duties.
The EU, which accounts for more than one-third of Cambodia's exports, including garments, footwear and bicycles.