For garment, textile, footwear, and travel goods workers in Phnom Penh and the provinces, what matters most is what actually goes into their pockets every month. Local media reports indicate that by 2026, the total minimum monthly take-home pay for these workers is expected to reach around $229.50.
That figure breaks down to a base statutory minimum wage of $200, topped with roughly $19.50 in mandatory allowances. And that's before factoring in overtime pay or any other miscellaneous benefits.
Those hard-earned dollars are what keep the sea of motorbikes packed outside factory gates every morning and pay for a bowl of rice noodle soup at the night market after a long shift. Compared to several neighboring countries, the paper figures here are a bit higher, but whether folks actually feel comfortable depends on how fast prices at the wet market go up.
