Cambodian garment industry’s solid performance continues in the first half of 2015

The Cambodian garment industry’s solid performance continued in the first half of 2015, according to the ILO's new edition of Cambodian Garment and Footwear Sector Bulletin.

Press release | Cambodia | 03 November 2015

Phnom Penh (ILO News) – The Cambodian garment industry’s solid performance continued in the first half of 2015, according to a new edition of Cambodian Garment and Footwear Sector Bulletin just released by the International Labour Office (ILO).

 

Issue 2 of the ILO’s Bulletin shows that during this first half of this year, Cambodian exports of garments and footwear were valued at US$ 3 billion, a 12.7% growth compared to the same period in 2014. Employment in the garment and footwear sector rose by 42 000 people over the first six months of this year, with total employment in registered factories reaching 607 000 in mid-2015.

 

The ILO Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia, and Lao People’s Democratic Republic also acknowledged the recent decision by the Royal Government of Cambodia to increase the minimum wage for workers in the garment and footwear sector to US$ 140 per month, following a tripartite process .

 

“There were fears in the past that minimum wage rises would cause the industry to falter. The data shows that the sector continued to perform quite well – Cambodia’s market share of garment and footwear exports has continued to rise in recent years. Of course, this positive experience from past minimum wage increases does not guarantee that future increases will necessarily be as benign for the industry” said Mr. Maurizio Bussi, Officer in Charge of the ILO Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

 

“The ILO will continue to respond to requests to provide technical advice and assistance to the tripartite stakeholders. We do hope that data and analysis in the Garment and Footwear Sector Bulletin will be used by stakeholders to inform evidence-based social dialogue around wages and other issues of key importance to the industry,” said Mr Bussi.

 

For further information please contact: 

Matthew Cowgill

Chief Technical Adviser - Labour standards in global supply chains

ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific

Tel.: +66 2288 1724

Email