After meeting with members, several labour union leaders yesterday said that they will not hold protests against the government-set garment industry minimum wage for 2015.

Minister of Labour Ith Sam Heng last week approved $128 as 2015’s minimum monthly wage in Cambodia’s garment sector. The increase, up from the current wage of $100, goes into effect January 1.

Union heads and labour advocates denounced the wage, which was $12 less than unionists proposed, but several yesterday said their members accepted the raise.

“About 80 per cent of my more than 40,000 members said they are happy with the new wage,” National Trade Union Confederation president Fa Saly said. “For me, I will keep demanding higher wages … by pushing the buyers, government and the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia to reconsider the raise, but will not strike.”

At the Collective Union of Movement of Workers, some 90 per cent were content with the new minimum, president Pav Sina said. But Free Trade Union president Chea Mony said his union will still protest.

“Most workers were angry.… They needed between $130 and $140 for 2014,” Mony said.