Demands for a better minimum wage and work conditions for skilled labor and informal workers were made over the week through social media platforms by union representatives, civil society organizations (CSOs) and workers in order to escape debt traps, in conjunction with the 139th International Labor Day on May 1.

On its Facebook page, ADHOC urged the government to set a minimum wage for workers in the construction, tourism, and service sectors, whereas CENTRAL highlighted that low wages pushed workers into debt traps.

According to 41-year-old Mao Srey Mom, head of the local Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions (CATU) at Tae Young Factory in Kandal Province, many female union leaders face threats in the apparel business. For instance, the plant owner threatens them when they try to form a union. Workers who act as union representatives in the factory also face threats from the local government.

She also pointed out that the local union is not able to fight on behalf of workers when they encounter injustice in the factory as the registration of the union is delayed.

“The biggest challenge is when we contact them [union members], as the company and authorities will threaten them at home after that or threaten their parents, and take money in return, and be monitored,” Srey Mom said. 

In addition to that, she believes that unions face problems, such as overwork, meeting deadlines, and health risks due to the pressure on workers who go to the toilet frequently, especially pregnant women.

“Pregnant women drink a lot of water, so when they go to the bathroom often, they are blamed [for being slow] because of the number of clothes they sew. The boss will scold them,” Srey Mom said. 

She expects the government and relevant ministries to strengthen labor laws to protect workers’ interests and stop harassment by bosses. Workers who express their opinion because they experienced injustice are looking for solutions. “They are not troublemakers.”

Roeun Chanthy, 44, who works at Yida factory in Kandal province, said garment workers’ salaries are still low. Although $4 was added to the minimum wage, bringing it to $208 per month as of January this year after discussions between employers and unions, it does not cover rent and other expenses. She said the cost of goods has gone up, which is why garment workers continue to struggle financially and are debt-ridden.

“The cost of things has gone up, surpassing the wages of employees. Rent has gone up by $5, but the salary is only up by $4. I only earn $350 if I work overtime and $270 if I don’t,” Chanthy told CamboJA News. “It is insufficient for me. So, I have to take out a loan.”

Chanthy, who is a widow with two children, expects the government and other stakeholders to consider increasing workers’ wages and restoring labor rights.

“I want the ministry to maintain workers’ salaries at a reasonable level of at least $300, and to adjust the economy to bring down the price of goods. It will be better for workers as our salaries are low but the price of goods keeps increasing,” she said.

On April 27, Prime Minister Hun Manet said International Labor Day, which is a national holiday, is celebrated annually to promote workers’ rights, benefits, and dignity. This year’s theme is “Together for Decent Work and Sustainable Growth and Resilience”.

He said the government’s vision for the future aligns with the national policy where employers and employees must work together to reconcile professional relationships and social responsibilities while fostering a culture of legal compliance.

“The theme is a reflection of our commitment to achieving our goal to ensure that citizens have equal opportunities, decent jobs and wages, good working conditions and professional relations, and a stronger social security system,” Hun Manet said. 

The government has worked hard to promote the freedom of professional organizations in line with trade union laws and international labor conventions which Cambodia has ratified.

He added that labor disputes have also been resolved effectively due to the maturity of the parties involved and the strengthening of out-of-court dispute resolution mechanisms. 

“So, I urge representatives of unions and professional organizations to act within a clear professional framework and in accordance with the law so that disputes can be resolved. If the demands are beyond the law, they cannot be resolved and if it involves a political groups, they will never be released,” said Hun Manet. 

He noted that the government and unions are “not enemies” and should work together to resolve disputes because “workers and employers are one family”. “Investors will not come to Cambodia if they only notice protests. Therefore, resolving disputes peacefully and in accordance with the law is a good way to attract investors to Cambodia,” he added.

Meanwhile, Labor and Vocational Training Minister Heng Sour said the Pentagonal Strategy Phase 1 was initiated with the objective of advancing employment growth, equity, capacity building, and sustainability.

His ministry also improved labor dispute resolution procedures, which resulted in a “higher settlement rate of 87 percent in the first quarter of 2025 compared to 84 percent in the same time last year”, he pointed out.

“The ministry has achieved a higher resolution rate by continuously improving intervention mechanisms on strikes and demonstrations in all sectors,” Sour said.

CENTRAL program manager Khun Tharo, who spoke to CamboJA News, said “joining hands to continue implementing fundamental freedoms to ensure social justice” is the focus for this year’s International Workers’ Day.

The theme represents the state of trade unions’ implementation of fundamental freedoms, which he believes needs to be improved. It is crucial to advance the adoption of policies pertaining to fundamental freedoms, which guarantee the advancement of industrial relations, and enhance the efficacy of dispute resolution.

“In the current labor situation, we have identified several priority requests to the government. First, the trade war crisis involving the US tax. We urge the government to find a way to negotiate with the US to ensure job and market stability as well as exports for the workers,” Tharo said. 

He observed the wage issue and the freedom of trade union as challenging, particularly the procedure to resolve labor disputes for workers and complaints against union leaders. He proposed further amendments to the Law on Trade Unions to uphold the right to organize unions, negotiate, and peaceful strikes.

“The accusations against union leaders should be dropped and the scope of social protection policies should be expanded to workers in construction, services, hotels, agriculture and other sectors,” Tharo said.

He said that the government should also consider expanding the scope of minimum wage or conduct research to ensure a national wage that covers the living standards of all workers, as minimum wage is only set for the garment sector.

Sok Kin, president of Building and Wood Workers Trade Union Federation of Cambodia, said because there is no minimum wage for construction workers, they face job security and lack access to social protection. 

“Women in the construction sector receive lower salaries than men, and suffer from occupational accidents, which are legally the responsibility of employers, but is poorly implemented by relevant parties. So, we ask the government to issue laws or declare safety standards in this sector,” Sok Kin told CamboJA News. 

According to the International Labour Organisation, accidents at Cambodian workplaces claim the lives of about 1,500 workers annually. The majority of mishaps occur in brick kilns, building sites, and small businesses that lack proper infrastructure and necessary expertise to safeguard employees.