As Cambodia marked International Women’s Day on March 8, civil society lamented that celebrations meant little without action. They urged the government to tackle gender-based violence, enforce labor protection, and end violation of rights, especially against women in the informal economy, who remain vulnerable due to weak law enforcement.
Seventy nine civil society organizations (CSOs) gathered for the event, themed Empowering Women and Girls for Equality, Economic Stability, and Social Justice, at Freedom Park in Phnom Penh. The participants, mostly women, came from diverse backgrounds to talk about their struggles, and called for immediate action to address gender-based violence, workplace exploitation, and economic insecurity.
They highlighted the precarious working conditions of women in the informal sector, including domestic workers, scavengers, and transport workers, as well as low wages, lack of social security, and vulnerability to abuse. Women in service industries also face sexual harassment, while land rights activists continue to be threatened for speaking out.
NGOs emphasized that while Cambodia has laws and policies to protect women, lack of enforcement remains a major barrier to gender equality.
Am Sam Ath, operations director of rights group Licadho, noted that domestic workers and those in the informal economy continue to face widespread abuse due to weak labor protections. He pointed to the increasing legal harassment of young women engaged in social, environmental, and land rights activism, calling it a violation of fundamental freedoms.
“If we look at the government’s policies and commitment to empower women and girls, they are adequate, but what is important is the will to implement the policies to strengthen and promote gender equality,” he said.
Women in the Informal Economy
Yong Srey Mom, an informal economy worker, described the harsh realities of domestic work, where the absence of a minimum wage allows employers to pay arbitrarily.
“There are no clear working hours. Most employers force them to work excessively, with no proper rest periods as required by labor laws. This severely impacts our health,” she said, adding that many domestic workers are denied social security benefits.
Beyond domestic work, women in other informal sectors face extreme financial and health challenges. Srey Mom recalled a tragic case of a scavenger who, lacking government assistance, sought “ang pao”—red envelopes traditionally filled with money—only to be trampled to death. Similarly, female transport workers, especially those working at night, are at high risk of harassment and traffic accidents.
“These are the realities we endure as women in the informal economy,” she shared, urging the government to implement policies that align with the national social protection framework.
Shedding light on challenges faced by women in the entertainment industry, Phin Sreyneath said employers deduct salaries from employees who take a weekend off and terminate female employees who become pregnant.
In a heartfelt plea, the industry worker called on the relevant ministry to urgently investigate the violations and take action to ensure the protection of women’s rights in the workplace.
Workplace Harassment and Union Suppression
Kleang Soben, a representative of the Labour Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld (LRSU), spoke about the challenges faced by women in the service sector, especially those working for NagaWorld casino.
“Most service workers are women, and they are required to dress beautifully, but behind that appearance, they endure violence and harassment. Customers insult them when they lose [the game]. In some cases, the harassment becomes physical,” she said.
She condemned the company’s inaction, stating that employees are often told to “endure it” because it is “part of the job.” Moreover, the union’s efforts to protect workers—many of whom are women—were met with retaliation, as employees were dismissed, with protests “violently suppressed”.
“During our peaceful protest, women strikers were denied access to bathrooms, forcing them to use scarves to cover themselves as they defecated on the street. Some were forcibly ushered into buses and abandoned on the outskirts of the city,” she added, recalling one striker who suffered a miscarriage due to the treatment.
Women Facing Land Rights Struggles
Yang Phanny, a representative of the “Brave Women” group from a poor community in Russey Keo district, highlighted the risks faced by women advocating for land rights. “When I protested for land [rights], they threatened to imprison me, and I would have to leave my children and husband behind.”
Phanny stressed the urgent need to accelerate the registration of community land, as many affected individuals are women and children.
“I have rights. Why are they violating my rights when I only demand land and decent housing?” she asked, holding back tears.
In a joint statement, the CSOs drew up 16 demands to the government, including stronger protection for victims of gender-based violence, enforcement of labor laws, expansion of social security, and recognition of informal workers. They also called for better public education, maternity benefits, and safeguards for human rights defenders.
Katta Orn, spokesperson for the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training, told CamboJA News that they followed the labor law’s dispute resolution mechanism in handling the case of former NagaWorld employees, but the matter was beyond their jurisdiction now.
The ministry remains open to receiving and addressing both individual and collective labor disputes, he added. On March 4, the ministry issued a statement outlining procedures to improve labor dispute resolution.
“In the case of workers’ rights violation, please report [the matter] to the labor inspector of the Ministry of Labor or the Department of Labor for investigation and resolution,” he said.
Bun Puthy, spokesperson for the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, did not respond to requests for comment.
