A teachers union has demanded the government raise pensions for retired civil servants, police and soldiers at the same time as increasing public sector salaries.

In letter delivered yesterday, Cambodian Independent Teachers Association president Rong Chhun called on Prime Minister Hun Sen to support retired government workers, who he said were languishing in poverty.

The problem, Chhun said, is while Hun Sen announced another wage bump for civil servants on January 12, there’s been no corresponding pension rise. He said workers who retired with low salaries were stuck with meager pensions as low as $25 a month.

Given that family support payments were cut on retirement, Chhun said retirees were struggling.

“The government should increase pensions and give retirees the modest salary they deserve for the many years they have served the nation,” he said.

The Pension Department at the Ministry of Social Affairs could not be contacted for comment yesterday.