Cambodia has one of the highest rates of female workforce participation in Southeast Asia, with women making up 90% of garment workers and nearly 40% of the construction industry. Yet, despite the fact that these industries would grind to a halt without them, women remain underrepresented in all leadership positions, including union leadership, and are often excluded from major decisions that affect their livelihoods.
The Women Workers’ Rights and Decent Work project, supported by Union Aid Abroad–APHEDA, has been tackling this imbalance since 2020. Working alongside three key Cambodian unions and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MoWA), the project supports women workers in challenging outdated norms, claiming their rights, and stepping into leadership roles.
The unions are pushing for change
Three major unions/workers associations are leading efforts to support urban women workers:
- Cambodian Food and Service Workers Federation (CFSWF) – Advocating for women in hospitality, restaurants, and food processing.
- Building and Wood Workers Trade Unions Federation of Cambodia (BWTUC) – Representing women in low-paid construction jobs.
- Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA) – Supporting informal workers, including street vendors, domestic workers, waste pickers, and tuk-tuk drivers.
Through gender equity action plans, leadership training, and national advocacy, these unions are creating pathways for women to take on decision-making roles. More women now hold leadership positions, including in national women’s committees.
Stronger protections for women
Unions are also fighting to improve working conditions and legal protections for women by pushing for:
- Expanded access to Cambodia’s National Social Security Fund (NSSF) for women workers.
- Stronger protections against workplace harassment and gender-based violence.
- Improved occupational health and safety (OHS) standards, particularly in male-dominated industries.
Training plays a key role in empowering women to understand and advocate for their rights. Over 460 workers have received training on gender equality, with 47 facilitators completing “Training of Trainers” courses. Australian educator and APHEDA volunteer Kathleen Galvin contributed to this initiative by introducing a six-day Active Learning for Gender Equality program, designed to make training more accessible to informal and rural workers.
Changing the rules
Beyond workplace training, unions are engaging directly with government ministries to push for policy change.
- Policy dialogues have led to national reports promoting women’s workplace welfare.
- Public events and awareness campaigns—such as May Day, International Women’s Day, and the 16 Days of Activism—have reached tens of thousands through union-led social media campaigns.
- International forums, such as the “Forum on Transformative Strategies Towards Gender Equality in Trade Unions,” have brought together union leaders and civil society groups to exchange ideas and develop strategies for reform.
Cambodian unions are now part of the global movement for gender equality, supporting ILO Convention 190, which aims to eliminate workplace violence, and the UN’s Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
Growing power
“The project has made progress for women workers at the local and national levels regarding their living and working conditions and capacity. Key progresses from the project are several. First, there has been better state intervention in the form of policy, support programs and engagement for workers, especially women workers. Second, better policies and the capacity of worker organisations to address the gender equality gap have also been improved. Third, workers’ living and working conditions in these target sectors have improved. Finally, workers’ concerns are often resolved by their worker organisations, government agencies and relevant stakeholders.”
- Chamrong Chuon, APHEDA’s Gender Program Coordinator in Cambodia
With unions, civil society, and government agencies working together, Cambodian women are reshaping their workplaces, securing better protections, and building power for all workers.
The Women Workers’ Rights and Decent Work project in Cambodia is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) and by the unions: NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, QLD Nurses and Midwives Union, and HACSU Victoria.
