PHNOM PENH, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's National Assembly on Thursday adopted a draft law on minimum wage, which was designed to improve living conditions for employees in various sectors in the kingdom.
One hundred and eight lawmakers, including Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, unanimously passed the bill.
"The draft bill on minimum wage is aimed at providing a decent living condition for all employees," Minister of Labor and Vocational Training Ith Samheng told the assembly. "It will promote a better investment and business atmosphere."
The law consisted of six chapters with 30 articles. Samheng said it would extend the minimum wage to other sectors beyond garment and footwear employees, who are currently the only workers who already have the monthly minimum wage.
The minister said the garment and footwear sector employed about 780,000 workers, and the monthly minimum wage for the sector was currently 170 U.S. dollars, up from only 40 dollars in 1997.
Pen Panha, chairman of the National Assembly's Commission on Legislation and Justice, said under the law on minimum wage, a National Minimum Wage Council would be established to set the minimum wage for employees in various sectors.
"Factors taking into account for setting a minimum wage are focused on economic conditions, cost of living, and virtual situation in the country," he said.
After the National Assembly's approval, the bill needs to be finally reviewed by the Senate before being submitted to nation's King Norodom Sihamoni for promulgation.?