Government Salaries Added to Campaigns

VOA: Government Salaries Added to Campaigns
Hun Sen: You believe that?

By Mean Veasna, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
02 June 2008

Click here to listen to the program in Khmer

With increasing cost pressures hitting Cambodians as they move toward a general election, the monthly wages of government workers has become a political issue.

Competing parties have added it to their platforms, promising as much as $100 per month increases after the election, while the ruling Cambodian People's Party has made promises of its own.

Speaking at a road inauguration Monday, Prime Minister Hun Sen acknowledged that government staff was getting small wages.

"I do not deny that government staff has a salary problem," Hun Sen said. "But we have to follow step by step to raise their wages, around 20 percent per year."

The average government worker earns $30 per month.

"We must construct the roads, bridges and schools," he said. "If not, we would be able to give further wages for government staff."

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said Hun Sen's statement showed irresponsibility, as the wage raise was not in correspondence with inflation. If the salary cannot be raised up at least 100 percent, the living standards of government staff will fall, he said.

The Sam Rainsy Party, if elected, would boost the salary to 500,000 riel per month, about $125 per month, he said.

The Cambodian Independent Teachers Association has several times threatened to demonstrate over low wages, and the garment sector was forced to increase the wages of factory workers by $6, following strike threats.

Government staff must get at least 400,000 riel per month, about $100, said Rong Chhun, president of the teacher's association. The government has the means to make such a raise, he said, "if they want."

Commodities Prices in Phnom Penh Have Skyrocketed

5th April 2008
By Mayarith and Mundol Keo
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Khmerization
On the web at http://khmerization.blogspot.com

A Radio Free Asia reporter, Mr. Mundol Keo, has reported that commodities prices have skyrocketed. Mr. Mayarith has asked Mr. Mundol Keo regarding the issues as follow:

Mayarith: Hello Mr. Mundol Keo. I would like to know about the general situation just before the Khmer New Year. What is your general observation about the commodities prices?

Mundol Keo: in Cambodia, and in particular in Phnom Penh, I noted that prices of almost all goods have increased dramatically, especially bus fares which have increased very high in anticipation of revellers returning back to their native villages.

For bus fares to the provinces such as from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, the fares have increased from 16,000 riels (US$4) to 24,000 ($6) riels. I have asked a taxi driver from Phnom Penh to Neak Luong, Mr. Ross Mao, and he said that the Phnom Penh-Neak Luong taxi fares have increased from 10,000 riels ($2.50) to 15,000 riels ($3.75). And he said that by the 10th of April the fares will go up to 20,000 riels ($5).

Mayarith: I wanted to know why did the taxi drivers increase their fares?

Mundol: They’ve told me that all commodities prices have increased, especially petrol. Today’s price of leaded petrol is 4,900 riels per litre and the price of Super petrol is 4,950 riels per litre. This is the reason why they increased their taxi fares. They said that if they do not increase their taxi fares it is not commensurate with the petrol prices and also they won’t be able to keep up with the costs of living.

Mayarith: Other than what you’ve just told me, are there any changes in the prices of other commodities such as the prices of meat, fish and rice?

Mundol: I’ve noted that the prices of meat, fish and vegetable continue to rise. For the prices of rice, after the government released its stockpiles in a measure to contain the price increases, I’ve noted that the prices have dropped a little bit. At its peak, the prices of Maliss rice (top grade rice) had increased to 4,500 riels per kilogram, but after the government released its stockpiles the prices have dropped to 3,000-3,500 riels per kilogram. The prices of other low grade rice have dropped down to 2,500-3,000 riels per kilogram.

But the prices of other commodities have increased continually. The prices of chicken used to be 15,000 riels to 16,000 riles per kilogram but this morning they increased to 20,000 riles per kilo. And the prices of pork are the same, they continue to rise and no sign that they will come down any sooner.

So we see that prices of all commodities keep going up and up with no sign of stopping. The increases in the prices of goods and transport fares have impacted the livelihood of many people. One traveller named Yem Yuth, who is travelling to Krakor has asked Radio Free Asia to request to the government to help bring down the prices of commodities and transport fares.

Public servants have complained that their salaries have not gone up. They complained that as the prices of goods increased, they have impacted a great deal on their family’s livelihood. Even though they are moonlighting as motorcycle taxi drivers, they still cannot cope with the increasing costs of commodities, which are rising everyday with no sign of dropping.

Sam Rainsy: With increased revenues, why the gov't does not deliver more on public services and increase the salaries of government workers?

With fast approaching election, Hun Sen boasts about economic success

Thursday, January 17, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

With the approaching general election, Hun Sen talked about the good economic progress in Cambodia. Talking at the National Assembly of Wednesday, Keat Chhon, the minister of economy and finance, said that the average annual income rose by 9%, from $613 in 2006 to $689 in 2007. Keat Chhon said that this income increase means that the number of Cambodians living under the poverty line will decrease by 2% in 2008. Prime minister Hun Sen told the National Assembly on Tuesday that the Gross Domestic Product will rise by more than 10% in 2008, from a value of 9.6% in 2007. Hun Sen said that the rising of land values also helps the Cambodian economy. However, opposition leader Sam Rainsy said that the government numbers only look good on paper, but they do not reflect the reality of everyday life for Cambodians. Sam Rainsy asked that if the revenues increased, why the government does not deliver more on public services and increase the salaries of government workers?