Empowering Cambodian Women Through Childcare: A Path to Workforce Inclusion and Child Development

The study by the World Bank, CDRI, and UNICEF Southeast Asia reveals that accessible, affordable childcare in Cambodia is essential for boosting women’s labor participation and supporting child development. Key recommendations include improving governance, increasing public investment, and establishing quality standards to foster a trusted, effective childcare system.

A recent study by the World Bank, in collaboration with the Cambodian Development Resource Institute (CDRI) and UNICEF Southeast Asia, delves into the state of accessible and affordable childcare in Cambodia, revealing significant economic and social implications for gender equality and economic inclusion. Although Cambodia has achieved a high female labor force participation rate of 74%, most women are confined to vulnerable and low-paying jobs, primarily due to the time constraints imposed by unpaid childcare responsibilities. Cambodian women shoulder approximately 90% of unpaid care work, a figure far exceeding the global average of 76%, and the lack of available childcare options particularly affects those with children under the age of three, limiting their ability to participate fully in the workforce. Formal childcare services, which could relieve these constraints, are notably scarce in Cambodia, particularly for children under three, where access is almost entirely privatized. Consequently, coverage remains low, and costs are prohibitively high, preventing many families from utilizing these services. For children between the ages of three and five, only about one-third are enrolled in preschool, and for those under three, the attendance rate falls to a mere 3.2%. This situation leaves the bulk of childcare responsibilities with family members, usually mothers or grandparents, which carries an opportunity cost as women are frequently forced to leave or reduce their paid employment to care for young children.

Economic Growth Hinges on Accessible Childcare

The implications of this gap in childcare access for Cambodia’s economic growth and workforce dynamics are profound. A more accessible and affordable childcare system could open significant employment opportunities for women and support economic productivity. However, despite years of policy focus, Cambodia’s childcare system is underdeveloped. The country’s constitution mandates the establishment of nurseries and support for mothers with insufficient resources, and laws require large companies to offer childcare options for employees, but enforcement remains weak. Many employers meet this requirement by providing only modest childcare allowances. Furthermore, most public and community preschools offer only a half-day of service, catering primarily to children aged three to five, which makes it difficult for parents, particularly mothers, to pursue full-time employment. Private preschools are more flexible with operating hours, yet they remain financially out of reach for the majority of Cambodian families, who cannot afford the high tuition fees. Data shows that mothers are generally willing to pay only around 17 dollars per month for childcare, far below the average costs, which often reach 82 dollars or more in private centers. Consequently, many Cambodian families rely on informal, unpaid childcare arrangements, often involving grandparents or other relatives, and this limits options for both care quality and economic participation.

Low Demand Creates a Cycle of Limited Supply

Low demand for formal childcare also plays a role in the limited supply of services, creating a cycle where insufficient options and high costs further reduce interest in these services among families. A substantial share of parents remain unfamiliar with the potential benefits of institutional childcare, particularly for early childhood development, which often leads to limited awareness of the developmental advantages such programs can offer. Many parents report a lack of trust in formal childcare facilities, preferring to keep children under the care of family members. Grandparents, the most common caregivers when mothers work, often lack the resources or understanding to provide developmental support, and children left in their care can miss out on essential stimulation, nutrition, and socialization opportunities. Trust issues are exacerbated by cultural expectations and social media reports of rare cases of mistreatment at childcare facilities. These perceptions, combined with the practical challenges of affordability and accessibility, limit the impact that institutional childcare could have on women’s employment and on the developmental opportunities available to young children.

Building Trust and Meeting Quality Standards

The study emphasizes that to address these challenges effectively, Cambodia needs a coordinated strategy. Key recommendations include clarifying governance around childcare responsibilities, expanding access to affordable childcare services, and ensuring quality standards for non-state facilities. There is also a clear need for greater investment in public funding for early childhood care, along with developing standardized operating hours that align with common work schedules, which could make childcare a more practical choice for working families. Developing a well-trained workforce for childcare and fostering a cultural shift in the perception of professional childcare services are also critical. Many families would benefit from awareness programs that better inform them about the long-term developmental benefits of early childhood education. Such programs could also help to alleviate safety concerns by establishing clear, well-enforced standards of care.

Legal Reforms to Support Working Mothers

Additionally, the report highlights the need to improve employment conditions for Cambodian women by strengthening legal protections for maternity leave and enforcing policies that mandate employer-supported childcare across industries. Public investment in low-cost, quality childcare services is essential to increase accessibility, particularly for younger children, while subsidies for low-income families could help make private childcare more affordable. Addressing these complex issues is likely to require multi-faceted reforms that leverage both public and private sector resources, alongside educational efforts aimed at increasing awareness of the benefits of early childhood care.

An Opportunity to Boost Children’s Futures and Economic Growth

By advancing these recommendations, Cambodia has an opportunity to foster a childcare system that supports working parents, improves the developmental prospects for children, and stimulates economic growth through increased female labor force participation. The far-reaching effects of quality childcare are clear: with stronger institutional frameworks, public-private partnerships, and policy shifts, Cambodia could improve social equity and position itself as a more inclusive and productive economy, setting an example in the region for sustainable, family-oriented development.