Currently, the Cambodian Labor Department issued a document about salary criteria of the textile and shoe-making industries. Based on this document, the minimum wage criteria of workers in textile and shoe-making industries will increase from 1^st February 2014. The document regulates that the minimum wage criteria in probation period increased from 75 USD to 95 USD and the regular workers from 80 USD to 100 USD.

The wage settlement method which adopts piecework system is regulated in this document in detail as well. In the probation period, if the quantity finished by workers exceeds the regulated, the companies should increase the salary. If the workers’ wages are lower than 95 USD per month based on the piecework system, the companies should pay the workers based on the minimum criteria (95 USD).

The document makes an statement on the welfare and allowances of workers.The transportation and accommodation subsidies is 7 USD/month, these allowances could not be paid if the companies provide with transportation services or accommodation. If the workers keep working in all working days without day offs, the companies should pay them extra 10 USD as reward.  If the workers want to do extra work voluntarily, the coampies should give them 2000 Riel as the meal subsidy or provide them with a meal.

In terms of the bonus, if the workers worked in the company for more than one year, the bonus should be added 1 USD per year based on the cardinal number (2 USD per month) from the second year. If the worker worked for one company for more than 11 years, this company should pay the worker 11 USD/month as bound.

In order to implement the content of this document, on 9^th January, the director of the Labor Department invited by the SSEZ Company made an explanation and provided with consulting for entered companies. The director emphasized that from July 2013 the General Election in Cambodia, there were a large number of strikes happened in Phnom Penh and other places. But, fortunately, there were no any strikes in Sihanouk Province now. So it is expected that all companies in the SSEZ could conduct the regulations issued by the government seriously and adjust the wages based on the new wage criteria. It will promote a good relationship between the companies and employers and guarantee the normal operation, security and harmony of the enterprises as well.