Individual consultant to conduct a ILO Convention 102 assessment of the Cambodian social security legal provisions.

Cambodia has an ambitious plan of accelerating economic growth over the coming decades. In addition to the pursuit of growth, meeting the growing aspirations of the population requires policies targeting the reduction of vulnerabilities. Aware of these challenges, the Government has placed Social Protection at the core of its priorities. The launch of the National Social Protection Policy Framework (2016-2025) was a milestone and illustrates the importance placed on social protection, which for the first time combines social security (including social health insurance) and social assistance under one single strategy. The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has a major role in the young system. It was established in 2008 under the provision of the 2002 Law on Social Security. The Employment Injury Scheme was launched in the same year, followed by the establishment of the mandatory Social Health Insurance (SHI) in January 2016. The pension scheme was rolled out later in 2022. The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) currently counts about 1.4 million members.

The ILO is supporting the development of the NSSF and more broadly the social security system in Cambodia through analysis, evidenced based policy and financial decision making, capacity building work and knowledge transfer which will complement other ILO work on social protection. 

Against the backdrop of an expanding Social Security system, Convention No. 102 serves the ILO constituents as guideline and reference for minimum standards of social security, the need of which is widely recognized, in particular to extend coverage to the self-employed, informal economy workers, and dependents of NSSF members.

Convention No.102 constitutes an internationally recognized and monitored safeguard that serves to guarantee that the protection provided to workers and their families is not reduced below the internationally agreed minimum levels. The assessment of the achievements of the Cambodian Social Security schemes against the principles and standards of Convention No.102 can contribute identifying areas of intervention for ensuring adequate basic levels of income security and access to basic services, as well as setting an environment conducive to political and social stability, and creating an environment attractive to business and international investments.

The general objective of the consultancy is to assess if the current legal and regulatory framework is complying with the international social security standards set out in ILO Convention No.102. The document is expected to support the line ministries, trade unions, employers’ organizations, and the Cambodia ILO Office in identifying key areas of inadequacy against minimum standards. Please refer to the attached ToR file for detailed deliverables and tasks.