Since 2018, the government has provided cash support to more than 356,000 female factory workers who gave birth. More than $35 million was shared with the mothers of over 358,000 children, said Ith Samheng, Minister of Labour and Vocational Training.
Samheng took to social media on the morning of March 8 – International Women’s Day – to share the latest updates.
“So far today, 164 women have given birth to 165 children, and received cash subsidies of 66 million riel,” he said.
Ath Thun, president of the Cambodian Labour Confederation (CLC), said the cash subsidy programme for working mothers was one indicator of the increased attention the government was paying to social security. However, he urged the ministry to focus on other work as well.
“More focus is needed on workers’ rights and salaries. Social security systems need to be more widely implemented across the Kingdom, as some aspects remain limited,” he said.
According to the labour ministry, the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) launched the child birth payment scheme to reduce maternal and infant mortality and support the health of mothers and babies.
“Women who give birth to one child receive 400,000 riel, while the mothers of twins are paid 800,000 and 1,200,000 for the mothers of triplets. In addition, the mothers of new triplets receive a further five million riel in cash support from Prime Minister Hun Sen and his wife,” it added.
According to a February 23 report, last year, the ministry issued payments of around $5.5 million to 55,801 mothers who gave birth to 56,188 children.
