NSSF and Oxfam Co-Organize Annual Forum with Local Leaders and Workers’ Representatives
The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and Oxfam co-organize an annual forum with the theme “Towards Inclusive, Gender-Responsive, and Universal Social Security in Cambodia” on 18 December 2023 at Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel.
This forum aims to creates a space for policy dialogue to understand challenges and find solutions amongst specialists, policy makers, and social security regulators and operators with local leaders and workers’ representatives to build inclusive, gender responsive, and university social protection systems in Cambodia.
Ms. Sophoan Phean, Oxfam National Director, said, “Oxfam’s mission is to contribute to build a society that is free from 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 lift them from poverty.”
This is the first national forum, and it is organised following the request of local leaders and workers’ representatives through our three regional forums at Cambodia’s economic poles including Siem Reap, Preah Sihanouk, and Svay Rieng from July to November 2023. These three regional forums were participated by 800 local leaders and workers’ representatives who represent farmers, workers in Cambodia’s apparel industry, youth and communities from Preah Sihanouk, Kampot, Koh Kong, Prey Veng, Kampong Cham, Tboung Khmom, Kratie, Svay Rieng, Bantey Meanchey and Siem Reap. Concern and requests, through these regional forums, were raised and documented, and mostly centre around the improvement of registering and paying contributary fee for workers, maternity and workers pregnancy protection, and the request to improve health system and quality healthcare services for NSSF card holders. Local leaders and workers representatives, through these regional forums, were able to discuss, raise their concern and request to specialists, representative of the National Social Protection Council, National Social Security Fund, Ministry of Women’s Affairs, and subnational governments for policy interventions and solutions.
Inclusive, Gender Responsive, and Universal Social Protection Systems are among Oxfam's top priorities. Oxfam has worked with partner organisations and government stakeholders on several social protection initiatives which contribute to the Royal Government of Cambodia’s effort to expand social protection coverages and benefits, and to strengthen inclusive, gender responsive, and social accountability in Cambodia’s social protection systems.
The awareness amongst Cambodian public, local leaders, workers’ representatives and their constituents, through these joint effort and partnership, have been increased particularly on social security benefits, coverages, and the vital of social protection policy to Cambodia’s poverty reduction and development. The Royal Government of Cambodia has also expanded the coverages and benefits, including the continued commitment to improve social accountability in Cambodia’s social protection systems. These have significantly contributed to improving 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 society.
Ms. Naratevy Kek, Oxfam Media and Communications Lead
Naratevey.kek@oxfam.org
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 greatly benefited the Cambodian people, particularly 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 voluntary contributary healthcare scheme for the dependents of NSSF members. 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.