Opinion: Private Care Expansion in Cambodia Can Ease Women’s Burden and Boost Jobs

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By Chhailim Vy

Junior Research Fellow

Future Forum's research fellow Chhailim Vy was published in Cambodianess on May 6th, 2026. Check out the original article HERE, and read it below!

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A file photo shows a medical practitioner conducting a checkup for a child. Photo by World Bank

The care economy in Cambodia is both indispensable and persistently overlooked. It underpins the functioning of society itself—sustaining households, supporting older adults, people with disabilities, children, and the sick—yet it remains largely invisible in public policy and economic planning.

Despite its central role in human well-being, care work is still framed as a private family obligation rather than recognized as labor with real social and economic value. This invisibility carries a cost: it obscures the scale of contribution and justifies the lack of investment and protection.

As in much of the world, the burden falls disproportionately on Cambodian women, who shoulder this work unpaid and underacknowledged, reinforcing deep gender inequalities.

According to the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates, women globally perform more than three-quarters of all unpaid care and domestic work, and this burden is similarly reflected in Cambodian households. Cambodian traditional expectations and cultural norms often position caregiving as a woman’s role, leading women to dedicate their daily lives to caring for their families, often without recognition or financial compensation.

Actually, 74 percent of Cambodian women are highly active in the labor market; however, the unequal distribution of care work creates a cycle of limitations for women that very often affects their opportunities to secure formal, paid work. This situation also forces most women to handle both unpaid care work and paid work, which becomes an obstacle in their daily lives.

So making care work a genuine choice is a solution that would reduce the burden on Cambodian women. This commentary contends that the expansion of private disability caregiver services is a necessary step to ease family care burdens in Cambodia, particularly for women, while improving care quality and social development.

Why Cambodia Needs an Expanded System of Private Care Centers

According to the ILO report, fewer than 10 percent of children under 3 in Cambodia have access to quality childcare or education. The lack of proper, reliable care centers forces Cambodian families to rely on traditional care work by women, leading them to drop out of the workforce.

According to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific's Social Development Policy Papers, about 400 million working-age women in the Asia-Pacific region are not working because they are engaged in unpaid care work. Family care work is not bad for women and all genders if it occurs with their consent, but what if it is driven by pressure from family members?

Also, even when women do not drop out of the workforce, the childcare burden still seems to fall disproportionately on them: the ILO report indicates that 64 percent of women in the Asia-Pacific region are not in formal employment but instead choose flexible work that allows them time to carry out their care work duties.

Unfortunately, this status quo in turn results in more women being exploited by employers, as part-time workers are not properly protected by the law.

This is why Cambodia should expand the number of private care centers. With a trustworthy service recognized by the government and at an affordable price, there will be more opportunities for Cambodian women to enter the workforce, pursue higher education, and take on roles in entrepreneurship and community leadership without the pressure of care work.

Government Tax Policies to Support Private Care Services

The government should consider exempting private care centers from some types of tax, such as:

— Duty-free importation / preferential tariff for care equipment: Duty-free importation / preferential tariff for care equipment: as some care centers need to install more equipment from other countries to ensure the quality of service, reducing import duties on assistive devices and specialized care tools, as with medical equipment in Cambodia, is really essential.

— Reduced / Zero-rated VAT on care services: As spending on care services depends on the condition of the recipient, some families will struggle financially. So the government can lower the service price range by reducing VAT, making such services more affordable for households with elderly relatives or members with disabilities.

These tax measures will promote the establishment of private care centers and encourage more families to use their services, ultimately improving social outcomes and reducing the care burden. This contributes not only to their individual empowerment but also to Cambodia’s overall economic productivity.

The Concerns Over Expanding Private Care Services

Even though there would be advantages from tax exemptions for private care centers, there are still arguments against this approach. While this policy is expected to reduce inequality in society, critics argue that it may instead create another form of inequality based on families’ financial capacity.

Even if tax exemptions reduce the price range of private care services, some families living in poverty would still be unable to access these services, creating a market that benefits only wealthier households. This social inequality would continue to leave poor households with children, older adults, and family members with disabilities in vulnerable positions.

In addition, a critique of the proposed tax exemption is that it would reduce national income due to lost tax revenue. Moreover, there are also concerns regarding quality and regulation. Without strict assessment and monitoring of private care centers receiving tax exemptions, this policy could be exploited, allowing some private companies operating under false pretenses to avoid paying taxes.

Disclaimer: Why Expansion Is Still Necessary and Possible

These concerns provide a useful perspective for reflecting on the next steps to improve care services in Cambodia. Once private care centers increase their operations, the government should seek cooperation with them and with other organizations working in the care sector to establish more public care centers that provide free services to poor families in need of caregiving support.

The government can also enhance cooperation with private care centers to offer discounted services to families holding an ID Poor, enabling them to access care services.

While tax exemptions for private care centers would ultimately reduce tax revenue, investing in stronger health care systems is critical for Cambodia’s development. Such an exemption has already been granted to many private institutions, including hospitals and schools, provided they contribute to social well-being.

Also, to address concerns about exploitation, the government should establish strict licensing requirements, conduct regular inspections, and implement transparent monitoring mechanisms for private care centers receiving tax exemptions, ensuring that tax benefits are tied to compliance with quality and care standards.

Advantages of Expanding the Number of Private Care Centers in Cambodia

— Reducing the care burden on women: As care work can be replaced by private services, it should no longer be a duty but a choice for women. This makes it easier for women to return to the workforce, pursue higher education, or engage in vocational training.

— Encouraging gender equality: Providing alternatives to unpaid family caregiving challenges the expectation that care is solely a woman’s duty. Supporting an expanded care economy is an important step toward addressing gender inequalities in Cambodia and contributes to both women’s empowerment and overall economic productivity.

— Maintaining dignity and well-being in families: Once families access professional care services, they experience less emotional and physical strain, especially for women. This helps maintain dignity for care recipients and strengthens family relationships.

— Improving quality of care: While Cambodian families often rely on strong family bonds, caring for people with disabilities or the elderly often requires professional support. With standard private care centers, patients can receive better care.

— Creating new jobs and economic growth: Increasing the number of private care centers would create more jobs for Cambodian caregivers, especially women, that suit their experience.

Conclusion: Making Care Work A Choice, Not A Burden

Expanding private care services in Cambodia is not about replacing them but about making it convenient for families so the burden will not fall on anyone. With targeted tax incentives, effective regulation, and support for low-income households, private care centers can complement the national care system.

Recognizing care services will help Cambodian women and other genders make informed decisions about their futures, reduce gender inequality in society, and enable them to fully participate in national development.

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