The 13rd Anniversary of the International Domestic Workers’ Day on “Value Caregivers and Domestic Workers”

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Phnom Penh, June 16, 2024_Today, Oxfam and​ Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA) jointly organize the International Domestic Workers’ Day on “Value Caregivers and Domestic Workers” in Phnom Penh. This event is to commemorate the​ right of domestic workers and to discuss the situation of domestic workers and their challenges, while sharing information and experiences on social protection policies and practices. This forum is an opportunity to formulate suggestions for further measures and policy intervention by government ministries and law makers.

There are approximately 270 participants including street vendors, representatives of households’ employers, members of transport workers, representatives from the government of Cambodia and development partners. 

Ms. Sophoan Phean, Oxfam National Director, said, “Oxfam’s mission is to contribute to building a society that is free of poverty and injustice. We are committed to collaborating with and supporting the Royal Government of Cambodia and relevant stakeholders in diminishing poverty and addressing inequality among workers, vulnerable population groups.Domestic workers are an important part of the labor force in the economic sector and actively participate in enhancing social well-being, enabling employment flows in all sectors and contributing to the enhancement of the family economy, social development and the national economy. The income of domestic workers helps to improve the economic situation of themselves and their families and prepares family members to face the risk or eventual economic crisis and helps them to get out of poverty and they must also be given appropriate working conditions and full protection.”

Mr. Pov Von, President of IDEA, said, “since 2005 IDEA has been encouraging positive changes in labour conditions, including those of domestic workers, as well as incorporating them under union law. Currently, IDEA is coordinating a Cambodian Domestic Workers Network which consists of 20 domestic workers groups, to initiate appropriate dialogues with relevant government agencies and households’ employers for greater recognition of their rights and therefore gaining access to social protection and decent living conditions.

Ms. Sreymom Yong is a Chef for one family in Phnom Penh and has been a domestic worker for more than 5 years. She has been active in advocating for better working conditions and benefits for her fellow domestic workers. When her employer asked why she want an NSSF card more than private insurance, she said that “NSSF is more beneficial than private insurance. I can access healthcare benefits, workplace injury insurance, and pension benefits. As an employer, you can pay the contributary fee on a yearly and monthly basis.” Ms. Sreymom then brought her employer to register and pay her NSSF contributary fee. 

Sreymom continued, “I want to see all domestic workers get the same support as me. What has improved is that after joining IDEA 10 days ago, I now have a job. I have learned many courses from the association, and I can improve myself. I can communicate a lot with other people. I am no longer afraid of speaking up. I can form a team; I am so proud of as a domestic worker. It’s decent work like other professions. 

Based on ILO’s research in 2018, there are approximately 240,000 domestic workers in Cambodia. Their incomes contribute an important economic proportion to Cambodian households’ revenues therefore playing a part in poverty eradication.

As other women in the informal economy, domestic workers are particularly vulnerable to the risks of income insecurity and health issues to discrimination, unsafe and insecure working conditions, often low and volatile incomes. If they stay home with their employer for 24 hours, they face abuse, no time to rest, no proper nutrition, and health problems. Those who stay outside their own rented room have problems of commuting at night, long distances in the rain, and instability in income and mental health, including physically unhealthy due to discrimination, insecurity and instability of working conditions, low income and limited freedom of association.

Domestic employments are of equal value as other types of labours and therefore deserve equal access rights to social protection system and services, freedom of association, so that they too can enjoy the same benefits as other workers do in Cambodia, not leaving them behind.

Oxfam and our partner urge the Royal Government of Cambodia to ratify the ILO Convention 189 on domestic workers’ rights to decent work and take necessary steps to support national implementation if the RGC is to realise its Cambodia’s Sustainable Development Goals and its ambition to become an upper middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050.