Asian Development Bank

Gender Equality in the Labor Market in Cambodia Asian Development Bank

This report analyzes gender equality in the labor market and related policies and legislation in Cambodia, and concludes with recommendations to promote gender equality. 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.