All elected local officials will see their salaries raised next month—just ahead of commune elections in June—after a sub-decree was signed by Prime Minister Hun Sen on Friday.
Ten layers of officials, from heads of provincial councils down to deputy commune chiefs and assistants, will benefit from varying increases, according to a release posted on the Public Functions Ministry’s website.
Similar decrees have been issued in recent months for soldiers, police officers, prison guards and civil servants.Retired state employees and military veterans will also receive an increase in monthly social security payments.
The latest sub-decree outlined the new monthly “allowances” for elected officials, but did not say by how much each had increased.
According to the release, the heads of provincial councils will see their salary increase to 1,210,000 riel a month, or about $305.
The lowest level, called a member of the village, will get 160,000 riel, or about $40.
Sak Setha, a secretary of state at the Interior Ministry, said the government had been planning the raises for some time, in line with increases to the salaries of teachers and other civil servants.
Last month, it was announced that cabinet members for senior government officials would also receive a pay raise.
San Pey, chief of Pouk commune in Siem Reap province, said on Sunday that his salary would increase by some $32 to about $222.
“I am happy with the government increasing the allowance,” he said, adding that the raises would still not be enough to cover all expenses for some officials, who would still need to top up their earnings with second jobs or other work.
Correction: A previous version of this article misquoted commune chief San Pey saying his salary would increase from $32 to $222.
