Labour Minister Ith Samheng on Monday kicked off a meeting of the Labour Advisory Committee – a group made up of union representatives, employers and the government – to begin negotiating next year’s minimum wage for garment sector workers.

The final decision is expected before October’s Pchum Ben holiday. “I hope employees will receive an outcome on the minimum wage for next year before Pchum Ben. And I hope it will be better than this year,” he said.

Labour Ministry spokesman Heng Sour said workers could get up to $180 with benefits and $231 if overtime is included.