Gender Equality in the Labor Market in Cambodia

Despite a decline in the gender gap in human capital, the gender gap in productive and decent work persists in Cambodia. The gender employment gap has a profound and compounding effect on women in the labor market, not only because they are subject to the deficits of less available work, more vulnerable work, and the unpaid work burden, but also because they are paid at a lower rate than men even when they do find work.

The main constraints on women in the labor market are domestic work and care burdens, and women's more limited access to resources, including education, training, government services, credit, and financial services. Women also face pervasive discrimination and lack of social protection in most aspects of their employment and work.

Cambodia faces the task of generating employment growth, reducing vulnerable employment, and improving decent work opportunities. This will require broad macroeconomic responses to expand employment opportunities, as well as policies and legislation to improve decent work, social protection, and active labor market support for men and women alike.

About this report

This report on gender equality in the labor market in Cambodia is drawn from studies by a team of consultants selected by ADB for a technical assistance project on promoting gender equality in Asian labor markets for inclusive growth, implemented in cooperation with the International Labour Office, Bangkok.

The report comprises a gendered analysis of Cambodia's labor market, policies, and legislation and provides recommendations for policies and legislation that have the potential to expand or improve employment and work opportunities for women in specific sectors in Cambodia.