20% pay raise starting next year
By Duong sokha
Cambodge Soir
Unofficial Translation from French by Tola Ek
Click here to read Cambodge Soir’s original article in French
Starting from 01 January 2008, the salaries of civil servants will increase by 20% each year, rather than the current 15%. The government explains this measure by the strong economic growth the country saw.
Starting from 01 January 2008, the salaries of civil servants will be re-evaluated to 20% increase per year, rather than the current 15% increase as planned in the government platform. This measure will affect 160,000 civil servants, as well as 160,000 soldiers and police officers in the kingdom. Furthermore, starting from the 2nd semester of this year, soldiers and police officers in the country will benefit from a 25% increase, this in addition to the 15% they also received at the beginning of the year. This exceptional pay raise will be also affect retired civil servants and former soldiers.
Khieu Kanharith, the government spokesman, explained the 20% pay raise by the economic situation of the country. “We fixed the pay raise to 15% because we estimated our growth to be about 6%. Now, it so happens that we have a double digit growth,” he explained. Last year, the kingdom saw a growth rate of 10.5%, slightly lower than the 13.4% growth rate in 2005. “From now until 2013, we plan to bring the base salary of civil servants to $60 per month,” Khieu Kanharith added. Currently, the base salary is at about $25 per month.
Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodia Independent Teachers’ Association (CITA) is happy to see this raise, however, he is not fooled by the carrot handed over by the government and the expectations it wants to get back at next year’s general election. “This raise is good news, but it is still too little. It will not allow any improvement in the living conditions of civil servants, it only allows the adjustment of salaries to price increase. The government must attack the problems of inflation and corruption. The government increases the salaries in view of the upcoming election. It is already chasing after the votes,” he said.
Rong Chhun’s criticism was rejected by Khieu Kanharith who recalled that the 15% pay raise was in effect for several years already as it is part of the government platform which was established after the last general election.
Starting from 01 January 2008, the salaries of civil servants will be re-evaluated to 20% increase per year, rather than the current 15% increase as planned in the government platform. This measure will affect 160,000 civil servants, as well as 160,000 soldiers and police officers in the kingdom. Furthermore, starting from the 2nd semester of this year, soldiers and police officers in the country will benefit from a 25% increase, this in addition to the 15% they also received at the beginning of the year. This exceptional pay raise will be also affect retired civil servants and former soldiers.
Khieu Kanharith, the government spokesman, explained the 20% pay raise by the economic situation of the country. “We fixed the pay raise to 15% because we estimated our growth to be about 6%. Now, it so happens that we have a double digit growth,” he explained. Last year, the kingdom saw a growth rate of 10.5%, slightly lower than the 13.4% growth rate in 2005. “From now until 2013, we plan to bring the base salary of civil servants to $60 per month,” Khieu Kanharith added. Currently, the base salary is at about $25 per month.
Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodia Independent Teachers’ Association (CITA) is happy to see this raise, however, he is not fooled by the carrot handed over by the government and the expectations it wants to get back at next year’s general election. “This raise is good news, but it is still too little. It will not allow any improvement in the living conditions of civil servants, it only allows the adjustment of salaries to price increase. The government must attack the problems of inflation and corruption. The government increases the salaries in view of the upcoming election. It is already chasing after the votes,” he said.
Rong Chhun’s criticism was rejected by Khieu Kanharith who recalled that the 15% pay raise was in effect for several years already as it is part of the government platform which was established after the last general election.
