Phnom Penh (FN), Oct. 29 – The Royal Government has planned a budget of more than USD 2,500 million to pay for civil servants in 2024, recruit new officials to replace retirees in 2023, increase the salaries of civil servants and functional pay, according to the summary of the draft law on budget management 2024.

In order to continue the policy of increasing the minimum wage for civil servants, the basic salary of civil servants and the Armed Forces in 2024 will be increased by 5 per cent, and the final salary will be increased as follows:

* Additional 22,500 Riels for civil servants with a salary of 1,130,000 Riels or less and an additional 20,000 Riels for civil servants with a salary of 1,130,100 Riels or more
* Additional 25,000 Riels for National Police officers and soldiers with a salary of 960,000 Riels or less and an additional 20,000 Riels for National Police officers and soldiers with a salary of 960,100 Riel up.

In 2024, the minimum salaries of civil servants and the armed forces will be increased as follows:

* Salary of civil servants will be increased from 1,300,000 Riels in 2023 to about 1,356,950 Riels.
* Salaries of teachers and doctors will be increased from 1,400,000 riels in 2023 to about 1,456,950 riels.
* Salary of the National Police (sergeant) will be increased from 1,384,477 riels (including the rice regime) in 2023 to approximately 1,443,927 riels (including the rice regime).
* Salary of soldiers will be increased from 1,251,000 Riels (excluding rice) in 2023 to approximately 1,306,550 Riels (excluding rice) and including rice to about 1,365,027 riels.

At the same time, the monthly allowance for contracted officers will also be increased from 710,000 riels to 770,000 riels in 2024.

The Royal Government will increase pensions as well as integrate old-age pensions into the new salary system to address the gap between old and new retirees by 2024.

Through this measure, a budget of 181 billion Riels is planned for increasing pensions and reducing this gap by 2023, and a budget of 100 billion Riels is planned for 2024. Therefore, the monthly minimum pension of former civil servants and veterans (veterans and former national police officers) has been increased from 770,000 Riels in 2023 to 82,500,000 Riels in 2024.

Separately, the final salary for capital-provincial council, city-district-commune council, municipal-district council, and village chiefs in 2024 will also be increased from 400,000 Riels up to improve the quality and efficiency of public service delivery and development in sub-national administrations.

The increase of the salary in 2024 is as follows:
* Chairman of the capital-provincial council will increase from 1,570,000 Riels in 2023 to 1,650,000 Riels.
* Capital-provincial council members will increase from 1,195,000 Riels in 2023 to 1,245,000 Riels.
* Chairman of the City-district-commune council will increase from 1,285,000 Riels in 2023 to 1,365,000 Riels.
* City-district-community council members will increase from 970,000 Riels in 2023 to 102,000 Riels.
* Chairman of the municipal-district council will increase from 1,240,000 Riels in 2023 to 1,320,000 Riels.
* First deputy, second deputy, first commune deputy chief, second commune deputy chief will increase from 930,000 Riels in 2023 to 980,000 Riels in 2024.
* Municipal-district council members will increase from 820,000 Riels in 2023 to 870,000 Riels.
* Village chiefs will increase from 510,000 riels in 2023 to 550,000 riels.
* Deputy village chief will increase from 390,000 Riels in 2023 to 430,000 Riels; and
* Village members will increase from 360,000 Riels in 2023 to 400,000 Riels.

Dates for implementation of the increase in the basic salary and allowances for civil servants, as well as the increase in the monthly allowance for contracted officers and the increase in the monthly pension for former civil servants and veterans, as well as the increase salary of the capital, provincial, municipal, and district councils, as well as commune councils and village officials and other allowances will be determined by a sub-decree of the Royal Government in the near future.
=FRESH NEWS