Som Oeurn MAO Sharing knowledge with peers, friends and others is one of my habits and passion, and I hope that this little preparation will help others to gain more knowledge for their own benefits, family and society as a whole.

1. សាកលវិទ្យាល័យបញ្ញា សាស្រ្តកម្ពុជា
Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia (PUC)
Gender Studies
ジェンダー学
Female Construction Worker in Cambodia
Prof. Kasumi Nakagawa
Group 9
1. Ly Sareda | 4. MaChettra | 7. ManSaosakda |9. MeasRady
2. Ly Simeng | 5. MakChun | 8. MaoSomOeurn |10. Meng Leangmuy
3. Ly Sivthong | 6. MamSokly
3

2. Contents
Introduction..................................................................................................................... 1
Demographic Information ............................................................................................... 1
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)...........................................................................2
National Social Security Fund (NSSF).............................................................................4
Conclusion........................................................................................................................ 5
Annex ...............................................................................................................................6
References...................................................................................................................... 15

3. Page | 1
Report (Female Construction Worker in Cambodia) June 08, 2018
Introduction
Since the construction industry is currently booming in Cambodia, there are many high-
rises being built across the capital of Phnom Penh (BBC, 2017). Those high-rises are
rendering the capital’s skyline almost as unpredictable as its traffic. Every single
expensive and luxurious high-rise apartment and other tall buildings forming the new
communities where seem to appear overnight (Kasztelan, 2016). For only this past four
years, the population in the capital of Phnom Penh has increased double, and this
incredible increase is mostly like the main reason that Phnom Penh has begun its
transformation into a sprawling metropolis (BBC, 2017). With the reason mentioned
above, the construction industry has employed between 175,000 and 200,000 workers
(CARE, 2018), but many of them are unskilled workers (Hawkins, CAMBODIADAILY,
2017). It’s estimated that as many as one in three construction workers in Cambodia are
women (Amaro & Kong, 2016 ), and there are about 20 – 40% construction workers who
are female. The majority of those female construction workers have relocated from rural
or remote areas with their family or friends in purpose of finding job opportunity or luck
in the capital (CARE, 2018). Some of them have also returned from Thailand in 2014
after a crackdown on illegal migrant workers (BBC, 2017). Since construction sites can
be considered as a tough, dangerous and risky areas, so the question is that whether
those places should be put more attention and consideration or not; moreover, those
places whether should be inspected regularly or not for making sure that those female
construction workers are treated well and get what they should get depending on
Laboring Law of the Kingdome of Cambodia, bellows are some of the analysis
information from the four female construction workers who were interviewed on
Sunday, May 27, 2018.
Demographic Information
Mrs. A Mrs. B Mrs. C Mrs. D
Age 32 33 38 31
Status Married Married Married Married
Children 2 4 3 2
Residence Siem Reap Takeo Takeo Kompong Cham
Working Period 1 Month 2 Years 8 Months 7 Years
Types of Jobs Brick Lifter Cleaner Cleaner Senior Cleaner
Table 1: Demographic Information

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Through the data collection in Table 1 from the interview conducted on Sunday, May 27,
2018 with those four female construction workers at the different construction sites, we
have found that their mean age is 33.5 years (The youngest age is 31 years old while the
oldest one is 38 years old.). With this finding of mean age, we know that all of
construction companies has correctly complied with the Labor Law of the Kingdom of
Cambodia (Article 56, Cambodia Labor Law, 1997). Those four female construction
workers are from three different provinces: Siem Reap, Takeo and Kompong Cham, as
the data shown, Mrs. A is from Sieam Reap province, and Mrs. D comes from Kompong
Cham province while Mrs. B and Mrs. C are from the same place, Takeo province. All of
them got married with the minimum of two kids whom they have to find the basic needs
in order to support their kids, excluded healthcare and other needs. Most of them are
cleaners, except Mrs. A is a brick lifter.
The periods of their working in their construction sites are also different; as seeing the
data from table 1, we know that the longest working period is seven years while the
shortest one is just only one month; for instance, Mrs. D has worked on her site for 7
years while Mrs. A has just started working on her field for one month. And if we look
at data of other two female construction workers, their working period are less than a
year. With this finding, we probably conclude that it is because of the policies, rules,
regulations or guidelines of those construction companies that are not clear enough or
satisfied by their employees that’s why there are approximately 75% of their construction
workers currently working with them are new, or it is more likely because of tough
working conditions or too much pressure from their supervisors; according to article 5
of labor law of the Kingdom of Cambodia, if that case happens, it will be against the law
(lawcambodia, 1997), so this case is strongly suggested to reconsider and seriously take
a look more.
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)
Mrs. A Mrs. B Mrs. C Mrs. D
Rate / day $6.25 $5.00 $5.00 $6.50
Safety & Security Safe Not Safe Not Safe Safe
Access clean water YES
NO
(Use river
water)
NO
(Pay 2000
Riels)
YES

5. Page | 3
Protected equipment YES YES YES YES
Types of equipment • helmet
• glove
• Safety cloth
• helmet
• construction
boot
• safety cloth
• helmet
• construct-
ion boot
• Safety cloth
• helmet
• glove and
• construction
boot
Equipment Training
YES
(not sure)
YES NO YES
Training (How often)
YES
(not enough)
YES NO YES
Injury YES (nail) NO NO NO
Table 2: Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)
As we can see the data from table 2, they can earn approximately on average about $5.69
per day or less than that amount compared to male construction workers who can earn
about $7 or more per day. According to a research by Adriana Siddle, a dignified work
adviser with CARE, women get paid an estimated $3 to $5 per day, compared to men
who can earn about $5 to $7 per day (CARE, 2018). This means that those construction
companies try to give lower rate comparing to market’s rate. Due to article 46 of labor
law of the Kingdom of Cambodia, “the exploitation or underestimation of workmen by
the labor contractor or sub-contractor is forbidden.”1 In addition, those female
construction workers are given fewer opportunities to learn new skills, and they are most
likely victims of outdated gender stereotypes, a new report says (Hawkins,
CAMBODIADAILY, 2017). They are only given the tasks such as cleaning and carrying
construction materials for men. Most of the time, they are told to do the tasks that male
construction workers don’t want to do.
If we look at the safety and security on their field, only 50% of them feel safe and secure
while working. Furthermore, in term of accessing clean water, only 50% of those workers
can access the clean water which is provided by construction companies without
charging while other 50% of them cannot. If they want to access the clean water, they
have to pay approximately 2000 riels per day, and if they don’t have ability to pay, they
can use the river water instead, for example, Mrs. B always uses river water because she
cannot afford it.
1 https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4-Y-
iIIHPRUNGQ0ZTI4YjEtYjhiZi00NGZlLTk5YmMtNmExNDRlZjBiYTAw/view

6. Page | 4
During on their duties, those four female construction workers protect themselves by
using protected construction equipment such as safe cloth, helmet, gloves and
construction boot; however, those female construction workers still use different set of
equipment from one to another. Due to this finding, this means that those construction
companies haven’t set one standard of using those protected equipment while their
workers working on sites, for example, Mrs. D has safe cloth, helmet, gloves and
construction boots while Mrs. A has only helmet and gloves. Consequently, only 75% of
those workers are safe while another 25% might face incidents and accidents while they
on duties.
Those construction companies should be restricted by the government or other related
agents in order to strengthen one standard for making sure that safety and security are
there for those female construction workers. And if the government and other agents
neglect or take this case lightly, those female construction workers still face this issue.
To our recommendation, this issue should be regularly raised up, increased the
awareness and cared by those construction companies. Moreover, they should provide
regular training in order to develop new and innovative skills for their future career
(Article 52, Cambodia Labor Law, 1997).
National Social Security Fund (NSSF)
Mrs. A Mrs. B Mrs. C Mrs. D
Aware of NSSF YES NO NO YES
How much do they know? Well NO NO Well
Company’s responsibility
in term of registration
with NSSF
Not sure Not sure Not sure YES
Get paid when asking
permission
YES NO NO YES
Company pays while
having medical treatment
YES NO NO YES
Table 3: National Social Security Fund (NSSF)

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According to the data from table 3, we know that there are only 50% of those female
construction workers who know about National Social Security Fund (NSSF) while other
50% are not quite clear or even know nothing about it. And there is only one-four who
exactly know that her company registered her with NSSF while other three-four are not
sure about the companies’ policies whether they register them or not. Due to this finding,
it means that some companies have informed their staff well while other companies
might not inform about it or don’t want to inform because they may think that this kind
of National Social Security Fund is not beneficial to their companies personally. Last,
there are only 50% among them who can get paid after asking permission when having
personal issues related to healthcare and medical treatments.
Conclusion
As the hypothesis was mentioned above, construction site is considered as a tough,
dangerous and risky area, and most of the female construction workers have not been
treated well. Due to our finding from the interview conducted on Sunday, May 27, 2018,
we agree that it still has small percentages of those female construction workers who are
treated well and can get what they should get depending on the Labor Law of the
Kingdom of Cambodia; in contrast, there are more percentages of them who are not
supported and treated well while working on their sites due to unclear policies, rules,
regulations or guidelines and different standards of using construction equipment.
Moreover, they cannot fully access clean water. Safety and security are not much taken
care. Learning new skills through the professional development from those construction
companies is enough, and rate of working per day is less comparing to male construction
workers. This study is limited for only two specific construction sites where are in
Chamkamorn and DaunPenh District. And if you want to know more whether this
finding is true in other construction sites, we recommend you to do more research. Last,
with this outcome we have found above, we strongly hope that it can be one of the
contributions which can be part of thoughts for the government and other related agents
to take a look more and seriously reconsider on this issue again.

8. Page | 6
Annex
Date of Interview May27, 2018
Location of
the interview (Khan)
ChamkarMon
Name of students
who interviewed
Mr. LySimeng
Mr. MamSokly
Name of a worker Mrs. A
RI: What is your name?
FCW: My name is Chorn Rum.
RI: How are you?
FCW: I’m very well.
RI: How old are you ?
FCW: I’m 32 years old.
RI: Are you married yet?
FCW: Yes, I am.
RI: If you have been married, how many children do you have?
FCW: I have 2 children and both of them are boys.
RI: Where are you from?
FCW: I come from Siem Reap province.
RI: How long have you been working in this construction site?

9. Page | 7
FCW: I have been working here about 1 month already.
RI: What type of work do you do in this construction site?
FCW: I work as a brick lifting.
RI: How much do you get per day (8-hour working)?
FCW: I get 2500 riles per day (8-hour).
RI: How do you feel about your safety in this construction site?
FCW: There are the stairs for me that I don’t need to climb up to other floors by the
metal Colum and on the top there are roofs that can protect me from things
that might drop from other higher floors, so this make me feel safe during
work there.
RI: How is your access to clean water at construction sites?
FCW: There is water system that provide from water supply authority in the site, so I
use those water every day.
RI: Do you have the protection equipment while you are working?
FCW: Yes, I do.
RI: If you use what kind of safety equipment do you use?
FCW: There are glove and helmet.
RI: Have you ever received training about how to use the protection equipment
property?
FCW: I’m not sure.
RI: If you ever receive training about how to use the protection/safety equipment,
was it enough, clear, and understandable to protect you?
FCW: I’m not sure but I just know that glow use for protect my hand when I brick left
and helmet use for protect something that fall down from the top.
RI: Have you ever experienced any accident/injury or sickness during working at
the construction site?
FCW:Yes, I used to have sicknesses like headache, stomachache and used to have
some injuries by nails.
RI:
Do you know National Social Security Fund (NSSF)?
FCW: Yes, I do.
RI: If you know, how and what do you know?

10. Page | 8
FCW: I have been worked at the factory of tailor and I used to be the membership, so
I know about that (NSSF). From what I know is that, I can go to the hospital
when I get sick or if I get any accidents on the street I don’t need to pay any
fees.
RI: Did your company/employer register you as a member of National Social
Security Fund (NSSF)?
FCW: I’m not sure.
RI: When you got injury or sickness during work, does company allow you to take
break and you still get paid?
FCW: Yes, the company does, and they also pay me as usual.
RI: When you got injury or sickness during work, does company pay for your
treatment?
FCW: Yes, the company pay me for all the treatment.
Date of Interview May27, 2018
Location of
the interview (Khan)
DounPenh
Name of students
who interviewed
MissLySivthong Name of a worker Mrs. B
RI: How are you?
FCW: I’m very well.

11. Page | 9
RI: What is your name?
FCW: My name’s Rerk Ri.
RI: How old are you?
FCW: I’m 33 years old.
RI: Where are you from?
FCW: I come from Takeo province.
RI: Are you married?
FCW: Yes, I am.
RI: How long have you been working in this construction site?
FCW: I have been working for 2 years.
RI: What type of work do you do in this construction site?
FCW: I work as a cleaner.
RI: How much do you get per day (8-hour working)?
FCW: I get 5$ a day and 3700rile in an hour.
RI: How do you feel about your safety in this construction site?
FCW: I feel a little bit scared.
RI: How is your access to clean water at construction sites?
FCW: There is no cleaning water, I use water from the river in daily day.
RI: Do you have the protection equipment while you are working?
FCW: Yes, I do.
RI: If you use what kind of safety equipment do you use?

12. Page | 10
FCW: There are safety clothe, helmet, and safety shoes.
RI: Have you ever received training about how to use the protection equipment
property?
FCW: Yes, I have.
RI : Have you ever experienced any accident/injury or sickness during working at
the construction site?
FCW: No, I haven’t.
RI: Do you know National Social Security Fund (NSSF)?
FCW: No, I don’t.
RI: When you got injury or sickness during work, does company allow you to take
break and you still get paid?
FCW: Yes, the company allow me to take break, but I won’t get paid.
RI: When you got injury or sickness during work, does company pay for your
treatment?
FCW: No, the company doesn’t pay for any treatment.
Date of Interview May27, 2018
Location of
the interview (Khan)
DounPenh
Name of students
who interviewed
Mr. Meng Leangmuy Name of a worker Mrs. C

13. Page | 11
RI: What is your name?
FCW: My name is Neang Sokrun.
RI: How are you?
FCW: I’m doing fine.
RI: How old are you ?
FCW: I’m 38 years old.
RI: Are you married yet?
FCW: Yes, I am.
RI: If you have been married, how many children do you have?
FCW: I have 3 children.
RI: Where are you from?
FCW: I come from Takeo province.
RI: How long have been working in this construction site?
FCW: I have been working here for 8 months.
RI: What type of work do you do in this construction site?
FCW: I worked as a cleaner.
RI: How much do you get per day (8-hour working)?
FCW: I get 5$ for 8 hours/day.
RI: How do you feel about your safety in this construction site?
FCW: I feel scare sometime.
RI: How is your access to clean water at construction sites?
FCW: The company doesn’t provide clean water for drinking. I spend around 2000
Riel/day to buy clean water.
RI: Do you have the protection equipment while you are working?
FCW: Yes, I do.
RI: If you have, what kind of safety equipment do you use?

14. Page | 12
FCW: There are helmet, safety shirt and safety shoes.
RI: Have you ever received training about how to use the protection equipment
property?
FCW: No I haven’t received any training.
RI: Have you ever experienced any accident/injury or sickness during working at
the construction site?
FCW: I never got any injuries or sicknesses, but my co-worker got sick from food
poisoning and she took time off but didn’t get pay.
RI: Do you know National Social Security Fund (NSSF)?
FCW: No, I don’t.
RI: Did your company/employer register you as a member of National Social
Security Fund (NSSF)?
FCW: I’m not sure.
RI: When you got injury or sickness during work, does company pay for your
treatment?
FCW: No, company doesn’t. I pay for any treatment myself.
DateofInterview May27, 2018
Locationof
theinterview(Khan)
DounPenh
Nameof students
whointerviewed
Ms. LySareda
Mr. MakChun
Nameofaworker Mrs. D

15. Page | 13
RI: How are you?
FCW: Yes I’m fine.
RI: What is your name?
FCW: My name is Haem Socheat.
RI: How old are you?
FCW: I am 31 years old.
RI: Where are you from?
FCW: I’m from Kompong Cham province.
RI: Are you married?
FCW: Yes, I am.
RI: Do you have any children?
FCW: Yes, I have two daughters.
RI: How long have you been working in this construction site?
FCW: I’ve been working here around 7 years.
RI: What kind of work do you do?
FCW:
In my job I help with office work, help cleaning floor and check staff that go
outside of the site.
RI: How much do you get per day?
FCW: I get 6.5$ for 8 hours/day and I get 3 dollars for two hours over.
RI: How do you feel about your safety in your work place/construction site?
FCW: I feel that the safety at work place is good at the construction site.
RI: How is your access to clean water at workplace/construction sites?
FCW: Yes I have access to clean water to drink.
RI: Do you have/ use the protection/ safety equipment while you are working?
FCW: Yes, I do.
RI: What kind of protection/safety equipment do you use?
FCW: I use safety clothe, Helmet, gloves and safe shoes.
RI:
Have you ever received training about how to use the protection/safety
equipment property
FCW: Yes, I have.
RI: Was the training enough, clear and understandable to protect you?
FCW: Yes, it was.

16. Page | 14
RI:
Have you ever experience any accident/injury or sickness during working
time?
FCW:
No. I haven’t.
RI: Do you know National Social Security Fund (NSSF)?
FCW:
Yes, I do.
RI: How and what do you know?
FCW: The NSSF had come to do some short course at the company and construction
site. From what I remember if I get sick I can go to the hospital without
paying but in only 3 days. After that, I am responsible to pay myself. And
they also pay for my family if they get sick.
RI: Did your company register you as a member of NSSF?
FCW:
Yes, they did. But they also provide company insurance to me.
RI: When you got injury or sickness during work did company allow you to take
break and you still get paid?
FCW: Yes, they did. Company will pay full salary for me during my sick period but
I must report them for how long until I recover. If I stay away longer the
company only pay half of my salary.
Ex. If I get accident and I ask to break only one month and I will back to
work, so in one month they pay me as my salary but if it over one month I get
only half of it.
RI: When I get injury or sickness during work, did the company pay for your
treatment/medicine?
FCW: When I get sick company pay for my treatment/medicine, but also I’m a
member of NSSF.
Note:
RI: Research Interviewer
FCW: Female Construction Worker

17. Page | 15
References
Amaro & Kong. (2016 , May 02). phnompenhpost. Retrieved from
www.phnompenhpost.com:
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/female-construction-workers-
paid-less-org
BBC. (2017, Mar 13). bbc. Retrieved from www.bbc.com:
https://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-39102989
Cambodiainvestment. (2011, Sep 19). cambodiainvestment. Retrieved from
www.cambodiainvestment.gov.kh:
http://www.cambodiainvestment.gov.kh/the-labor-law-of-
cambodia_970313.html
CARE. (2018). care-cambodia. Retrieved from www.care-cambodia.org:
http://www.care-cambodia.org/lrfcw
Hawkins, H. (2017, Mar 9). CAMBODIADAILY. Retrieved from
www.cambodiadaily.com: https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/women-in-
construction-weighed-down-126313/
Kasztelan, M. (2016, April). ruom. Retrieved from www.ruom.net:
http://www.ruom.net/portfolio-item/the-women-who-built-cambodia/
lawcambodia. (1997, Jan 10). lawcambodia. Retrieved from
http://lawcambodia.blogspot.com: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4-Y-
iIIHPRUNGQ0ZTI4YjEtYjhiZi00NGZlLTk5YmMtNmExNDRlZjBiYTAw/view