Tuesday, September 16, 2008

2008-09-16 - Pay and Conditions

Have been involved in interviewing for an IT position, and also seeing a little of what Matt & Liane are doing on the HR side, and though I’d share a little as to how the whole pay and conditions thing works in Cambodia. Recall that the main currency is US$, with the local riel used instead of cents – $4,200 riel = US$1.

First of all, the average salary is much lower than in Oz – I think my equivalent pay here would be about US$800 per month. As a guide, some other living costs:
  • Basic rent: 1 room + shared amenities: about $80/month
  • Fancy rent: swish house: $1,000/month +
  • Buy house in inner Phnom Penh: easily over $1 million
  • Crappy little 2nd hand car: $5,000
  • Roadside stall snack: 2000 riel ($0.50)
  • Cheap but good restaurant lunch: $2
  • Fancy restaurants: $5
  • Tuktuk ride: $1.50

See also previous post re shopping at Luckys.

Wages for white-collar jobs here start at about $60 a month for basic public servants – crap pay, but people actually pay thousands to get PS jobs, because the position allows you to extort bribes / be corrupt.

Foreign organisations, including charities like CARE typically pay better – say $120/month minimum for the lower ranked jobs like security guards, drivers, cleaners. Then it’s up to about $1,000 per month for middle management.

On the benefits side, usually included are:

  • Health insurance (local treatment only)
  • Allowances for extra-ordinary travel and such
  • Khmer new year (“the 13th month” – occurs in April) – extra 1 months pay as a bonus
  • Severance pay – also something like 1 months pay (not only for redundancy, also when you resign and possibly even if you get fired – not sure)

Some organisations and companies also seem to do things like:

  • (Chinese) Autumn festival – about now – extra 1 months pay
  • Bonus if org / company is doing well – up to 2 month’s pay

So, while the pay levels are generally much lower, you can get up to 16 months pay in one calendar year. Of course, this only applies to those working with good firms and charities – the rural and urban poor have no such luck.

Finally, of the NGOs (Non-Govt. Organisations – charities), apparently the UN pays by far the best.

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