Male legislators, officials and managers, for example, on average earn 29 per cent more than their female counterparts, while across all formal occupations, the gap is about 27 per cent, says Gender Equality in the Labor Market in Cambodia, a study produced in conjunction with the International Labour Organization.

In the armed forces, men and women are listed as earning similar amounts – but women make up a mere 13 per cent of defence and public administration employees, the report continues.

As the garment industry expanded between 1998 and 2008, women’s share of employment in goods and services industries increased from 44 per cent to 56 per cent – but, in total, women as a group earned on average only 71 per cent of what men did.

Such gender gaps prevent Cambodia from realising its growth potential.

Although the rate of female participation in the labour market has been gradually improving, women are still facing the gender wage gap.

“Cambodian women represent 51 percent of the country’s population, yet their ability to participate as equal partners in social political and economic life is severely constrained,” stated The Asia Foundation’s report.

The cultural norms that unfairly construct the role of women as housewives and mothers remain strong in Cambodian society.

Social attitudinal change is therefore needed.  Gender disparity in education must be further reduced and women’s empowerment in the workplace must be further promoted.