Cambodian garment workers protest corporations for “$177” monthly wages, 2014

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Summary

In 2014, Cambodian garment workers, supported by international allies, campaigned for a living wage of $177 p er m o n t han d b e tt er w or k in g co n d i t i o n s . T h ec am p ai g nb e g an w i t h s t r ik es an d ma r c h es in P hn o m P e nh, f a ce d v i o l e n t g o v er nm e n t r e p r ess i o n, an d l a t er s hi f t e d t o p r ess u r in g in t er na t i o na l c l o t hin g b r an d s . W hi l e t h e g o v er nm e n t r ai se d t h e minim u m w a g e t o$ 128, the original demand was not met, though some companies later pledged improvements.

Background

Cambodia’s garment industry accounts for over 80% of exports and is known for labor exploitation, with 90% female workers facing intimidation, bribes, and short-term contracts. The minimum wage was under $100 p er m o n t hin e a r l y 2014,$ 20 below the poverty line, and workers demanded a living wage of $177. T h e p o l i t i c a l c l ima t e w a s t e n se a f t er d i s p u t e d 2013 e l ec t i o n s, w i t h t h eo pp os i t i o n C N R P p r o mi s in g a$ 160 minimum wage if elected.

What happened

On 3 January 2014, garment workers in Phnom Penh went on strike after the government refused to raise the minimum wage to $160. [so u r ce : n v - d a t aba se] P o l i ce f i r e d a tp r o t es t er s, k i l l in g f o u r an d inj u r in g o v er tw e n t y [so u r ce : n v - d a t aba se] . T h e n e x t d a y, w or k er s in P or S e n c h ey D i s t r i c t r e f u se d t o l e a v e an d t h r e w b o ttl es, s t o n es, an d p e t r o l b o mb s a tp o l i ce [so u r ce : n v - d a t aba se] . A m o n t h l a t er, P r im e M ini s t er H u n S e n l i f t e d t h e ban o n p r o t es t in g b u tw a r n e d o f^{'} p r o - g o v er nm e n t s u pp or t^{'} a g ain s t^{'} an t i - g o v er nm e n t a c t s^{'} [so u r ce : n v - d a t aba se] . W or k er s t h e n s hi f t e d t a c t i cs t o p r ess u r e in t er na t i o na l c l o t hin g co m p ani es d i r ec tl y [so u r ce : n v - d a t aba se] . T h e C N R P, w hi c hha d s u pp or t e d t h e m o v e m e n t, w i t h d r e w s u pp or t a f t er H u n S e n w a se l ec t e d p r es i d e n t o f t h e C P P in J u n e [so u r ce : n v - d a t aba se] . O n 17 S e pt e mb er 2014, o v er 10, 000 w or k er s f r o m 139 f a c t or i es ma r c h e d in P hn o m P e nh, d i s t r ib u t in g s t i c k er s an d t - s hi r t ss a y in g^{'} W e N ee d$ 177!’ [source: nv-database]. The campaign gained traction in India and the US, with United Students Against Sweatshops organizing a ‘Day of Action’ on 17 September using social media [source: nv-database]. On 12 November 2014, the government raised the minimum wage to $128, s h or t o f t h e$ 177 demand [source: nv-database]. In March 2015, authorities cracked down, arresting union leaders and firing workers [source: nv-database]. In October 2015, eight major companies including H&M and Inditex announced plans to meet the living wage and improve standards, but progress was slow [source: nv-database]. USAS released a petition and called for a global day of action on 10 December 2015, with supporters protesting at H&M and Walmart stores in the US [source: nv-database].

Key people & organizations

Cambodian garment workers
United Students Against Sweatshops
Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union
Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP)
Cambodian People’s Party (CPP)
Prime Minister Hun Sen
Nike
GAP
H&M
Inditex (Zara)
New Look

Tactics used

The campaign combined strikes and marches to disrupt production and gain visibility, then shifted to targeting international brands through petitions, social media, and global days of action, leveraging consumer pressure to compensate for domestic repression. [source: nv-database]

Outcome

Verdict: partial.

The campaign achieved a partial wage increase to $128 p er m o n t han d pl e d g es f r o mmaj or co m p ani es t o im p r o v eco n d i t i o n s, b u tt h eor i g ina l d e man df or$ 177 was not met. Implementation of corporate promises was delayed and bureaucratized, and government repression continued. [source: nv-database]

Lessons

Shifting targets from a repressive government to international corporations can open new leverage points.
Global solidarity campaigns using social media and coordinated days of action amplify local demands.
Partial gains may be achieved even when the full demand is not met, but sustained pressure is needed to ensure implementation.

Sources

Global Nonviolent Action Database — [[nv-database]]

Disclaimer: Included as a teaching example of campaign craft, not as endorsement.

Sources & verification

nv-database — grounding: primary — license: link-only
Rewritten: 2026-06-25 via worker_casestudies_v2.py

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