Prime Minister Hun Sen said Wednesday he had signed a new subdecree to double the allowances given to civil servants for their spouses and children and raise teaching allowances by 10 percent.
Speaking at a school inauguration in Kandal province, Hun Sen said the rise will come into effect at the beginning of next month.
“The raise in the allowance will help to improve the living standards of teachers,” the prime minister said.
Civil servants currently receive an extra $0.75 per month if they are married and $0.62 for each child. The new law raises the bonus to $1.50 and $1.25 respectively.
Teacher salaries and allowances are paid separately, with the latter, which is based on the number of hours spent teaching, being the most significant.
According to government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith the new raise will put teacher income at more than $100 per month.
Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association President Rong Chhun said he welcomed the raise, but added it would not be enough.
“It does not balance with inflation,” he said. “This is just propaganda in the run-up to the election.”
SRP President Sam Rainsy also said the increase would not be enough for civil servants or teachers.
“It will still be very difficult for people in those professions to have a proper living standard,” he said, adding that all civil servants should be paid at least $200 per month.
Khieu Kanharith said the raise was a substantial one, adding that teachers’ incomes were now at an acceptable level.
“The SRP said teachers should get $100 per month, and this raise will raise their income to above that,” he said.
