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Today, the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and Oxfam co-organize an annual regional forum with the theme “Towards Inclusive, Gender-Responsive, and Universal Social Security in Cambodia” in Svay Rieng province.  

To enhance effectiveness, interventions and to strengthen social accountability mechanisms in social protection systems in Cambodia, the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and Oxfam co-organize an annual regional forum with local leaders and workers' representatives with a theme “Towards Inclusive, Gender-Responsive, and Universal Social Security in Cambodia.” The forum is a policy dialogue platform to discuss and understand the challenges and to identify the solutions among the experts, policy makers and service providers on social security with local leaders and workers' representatives towards building inclusive, gender-responsive, and universal social protection systems in Cambodia.

The primary objectives of this forum are: a) to promote awareness and engagement in policy dialogues amongst local leaders, workers’ representatives and community representatives with regulators and operators of the social security to discuss the progress, challenges and long-term plans of the National Social Security Fund towards an inclusive, gender-responsive and universal social protection systems in Cambodia; b) understand the challenges and suggestions raised by local leaders and workers' representatives related to the services and benefits of the social security; c) to enhance cooperation and policy dialogue between regulators and operators of the social security system with representatives of civil society organizations, local leaders and workers’ representatives and hear their concerns and suggestions and gather their input to inform the formulation of a comprehensive, gender-responsive and inclusive social security policies.

Ms. Chan Chhorvy Sok, Oxfam Program Manager said, “Oxfam’s mission is to contribute to build 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 garment workers, smallholder farmers, and workers in the informal economy. This is particularly crucial for women and mothers to ensure their access to inclusive, gender-responsive and universal social security in Cambodia. Access to social protection is of utmost importance for the well-being of workers and their families, as it reduces the vulnerability to the global disasters or epidemics and enhances their resilience.” 

The forum is being held continuously in the main economic poles of the Kingdom of Cambodia. On 17 September 2023, this similar regional forum was held in Sihanoukville with a total of 130 attendees from who are leaders and workers' representatives, experts and speakers from the Ministries and departments, journalists and authority from provincial administrations of Sihanoukville, Kep, Kampot and Koh Kong. This annual regional forum will be held in Svay Rieng with local leaders and workers representatives from, including representative from government organisations, Prey Veng, Kampong Cham, Tbong Khmum, Kratie and Svay Rieng.

This annual forum will be organized and concluded in Phnom Penh with the participation of leaders and representatives of ministries, departments, experts, policy makers, as well as local leaders and workers' representatives from all sectors to common challenges and jointly address them to strengthen a stronger inclusiveness, gender-responsive, and universal social protection systems in the Kingdom. 

Contact information:

Ms. Naratevy Kek, Media and Communications Manager, Oxfam, Naratevey.kek@oxfam.org

Notes to editors:

Over the past few years, the Royal Government of Cambodia, through the National Social Protection Council (NSPC), the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and the National Social Assistance Fund (NSAF), have initiated the implementation of social protection schemes and programme, especially the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), which has provided many benefits to workers in the apparel sector.

Recently, the Royal Government of Cambodia has also introduced the expansion of coverage and benefits of the social security fund to cover workers who work in both formal and informal economies. This coverage expansion includes: the issuance of health equity cards to workers in entertainment industry; maternity allowance for NSSF’s members who are pregnant women or have children under 2 (two) years of age, including a plan to provide free healthcare services for dependents of NSSF’s card holders. In addition, the Royal Government of the 7th Legislature has rolled out the first phase of the “Pentagon Strategy” as its policy flagship for 2023-2028. Social protection systems are considered as one of the main pillars of the five mottos of this strategy contributing to the realization of the Cambodia Vision 2050. This demonstrates that Cambodia has been on the right track towards building resilience, gender responsive and inclusiveness in its social protection system.

Inclusive, Gender Responsive, and Universal Social Protection Systems are among Oxfam's top priorities. Oxfam actively contributes to the Government’s efforts in the expansion coverage and benefits and enhance inclusiveness, gender-responsiveness and social accountability of the social protection systems. This is achieved through collaboration with key entities such as the National Social Protection Council, the National Social Security Fund and the National Social Assistance Fund, relevant ministries and organization partners including the Social Protection Platform for all. Oxfam implements several social protection initiatives, including:

  1. Improving Synergies between Social Protection & Public Financial Management, funded by the European Union. 
  2. Inclusive National Social Protection Initiatives that Respond to the Needs of Apparel Industry Employees (INSPIRE), with funded by the Laudes Foundation and KLUB. 
  3. Fostering an Inclusive and Shock Responsive Social Protection System in Cambodia (FIRST), funded by the European Union.
  4. Improved Social Protection and Labor Rights for Women Workers in Agrifood Sector, funded by the Belgium Government (DGD)
  5. Enhance Gender Equality and Access to Labor Protection for Workers in Apparel Industry, funded by the German Agency for international Cooperation, GIZ. 

These projects and collaboration have led to the expansion of the Social Security Fund and Social Assistance Fund, encompassing more benefits, and strengthening social accountability mechanisms within social protection system. They also foster positive relationships and public trust in service providers, public servants and policy makers. Moreover, these efforts contribute to building and enhancing resilience, promoting gender equality, and fostering inclusiveness in Cambodian.