Improving women’s access to old-age pensions, Cambodia and Vietnam
Cambodia and Viet Nam are making huge efforts to improve social protection during old age, but more needs to be done to include women and design gender-responsive social protection systems that are fair and sustainable
The pension systems of Cambodia and Viet Nam are in different stages of development. Cambodia is just beginning to establish the foundations of its pension system. With the support of the ILO, the Government of Cambodia is preparing the launch of its first pension scheme for workers in the private and public sectors. Viet Nam has gradually made progress towards building an old-age pension system through a mix of social insurance and tax-financed pensions.
Despite the progress made, the majority of elderly people cannot expect to receive a pension when they reach the retirement age. Women face more adverse circumstances that affect their pension entitlements. They usually have lower participation in the labour market, shorter or interrupted careers due to care responsibilities, higher risk of working in vulnerable employment, and lower incomes than men.
Despite the progress made, the majority of elderly people cannot expect to receive a pension when they reach the retirement age. Women face more adverse circumstances that affect their pension entitlements. They usually have lower participation in the labour market, shorter or interrupted careers due to care responsibilities, higher risk of working in vulnerable employment, and lower incomes than men.