Cambodia (KH)
Affordable Southeast Asian base with easy daily life, a large Phnom Penh and Siem Reap expat scene, strong NGO/tourism/education networks, fast digital payments, and visa rules that are flexible but increasingly document-driven.
Social Security in Cambodia
Benefits, contributions, and how the system works for expats.
Cambodia's National Social Security Fund (NSSF — nssf.gov.kh) administers three mandatory contributory schemes for formal sector employees: Occupational Risk (work accident and disease), Healthcare, and Pension. All three are compulsory for employers with registered employees. The NSSF system is expanding in coverage and enforcement since 2022 and is a legal compliance obligation — not optional. Expats in formal employment are covered; self-employed individuals and informal workers are not yet automatically included. NSSF is a baseline, not a substitute for expat-grade private medical insurance or retirement savings.
NSSF membership number
ស.ស.ស / National Social Security Fund membership number
Employers register each eligible employee with NSSF within 30 days of commencing employment. The NSSF issues a membership card and number. Employees do not self-register. If your employer has not registered you, you can check status with NSSF directly (nssf.gov.kh or by visiting the NSSF office in Phnom Penh). NSSF has regional offices in Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, and other provincial capitals.
- Access to NSSF-contracted healthcare clinics and hospitals
- Occupational risk (work injury) claims and benefits
- Pension contribution accumulation from January 2022
- Employer compliance verification by MoLVT labour inspectors
- Maternity benefit claims for eligible workers
- Proof of formal employment in labour law disputes
Benefits & Support Payments
Occupational Risk scheme
NSSF Occupational Risk / គ្រោះថ្នាក់ការងារ
Covers work accidents and occupational diseases. Benefits include: medical care at NSSF-contracted facilities, short-term disability allowance (temporary incapacity), long-term disability pension, survivor pension and funeral grant for fatal workplace accidents. Employer-funded entirely — no employee contribution.
All registered formal employees covered under NSSF employer registration. Must report accident through employer within 48 hours of incident.
Employer reports the work accident to NSSF immediately (within 48 hours for accidents requiring more than 1 day's absence). Employee should be treated at an NSSF-contracted facility where possible. NSSF assesses the claim and determines benefit level. Keep incident report, medical records, and police report (if applicable).
Healthcare scheme
NSSF Health Care / ថែទាំសុខភាព
Provides healthcare coverage at NSSF-contracted clinics and hospitals for registered employees and their dependants (spouse and children under 18, subject to registration). Covers outpatient consultations, inpatient care, surgery, medicines at contracted facilities, and maternity care for NSSF-registered employees. Benefit is access to services rather than cash reimbursement.
All registered employees. Dependant coverage requires separate registration of spouse and children with NSSF.
Present your NSSF card and national ID/passport at any NSSF-contracted healthcare facility. For dependants, present their NSSF-registered dependant documentation. NSSF publishes the list of contracted facilities on nssf.gov.kh.
Pension scheme
NSSF Pension / ជំនាញស្ថិរភាពសោធននិវត្តន៍
A mandatory defined-contribution accumulation pension for formal workers, introduced from January 2022. Contributions accumulate in an individual account. Pension is accessible at age 60 (standard retirement age). Also provides disability pension and survivor benefit for contributors who become permanently disabled or die before retirement. Scheme is expanding to cover more sectors progressively.
Formal sector employees registered with NSSF pension scheme. Coverage expanding — check current NSSF guidance for your sector. Self-employed voluntary participation is under policy development.
Contributions are deducted by employer from payroll and remitted to NSSF monthly. Check payslip for pension deduction. View contribution history through NSSF online portal or NSSF office. Pension accessible at age 60 upon formal application to NSSF.
Maternity benefit
NSSF Maternity / អត្ថប្រយោជន៍មាតុភាព
Under Cambodia Labour Law, female employees are entitled to 90 days paid maternity leave (50% of wage paid by employer; NSSF may top up for registered workers). NSSF healthcare scheme covers maternity care at contracted facilities. Maternity-related healthcare in the NSSF network includes antenatal care, delivery, and postnatal care.
Female employees registered with NSSF healthcare scheme for at least 12 months. Employer registration and NSSF card required.
Notify employer in advance. Use NSSF-contracted maternity facilities for scheme benefits. Submit maternity documents (medical confirmation, ID, NSSF card) to employer and NSSF.
Contribution Overview
Three mandatory NSSF contribution streams apply to formal employment: 1. OCCUPATIONAL RISK: 0.8% of gross wage — 100% employer-paid. No employee contribution. 2. HEALTHCARE: 2.6% total — split 1.3% employer + 1.3% employee. Employee share deducted from payslip (Prakas No. 449). 3. PENSION: 4% total — split 2% employer + 2% employee. Employee share deducted from payslip. All contributions calculated on gross wage subject to NSSF monthly wage ceiling (updated periodically — verify at nssf.gov.kh). Contributions remitted monthly to NSSF by employer by the 15th of the following month. Late remittance incurs penalties. MoLVT labour inspectors verify NSSF compliance and can impose fines for unregistered workers or unpaid contributions.
International Social Security Agreements
Cambodia has no comprehensive social security totalization treaties with major expat source countries (UK, USA, Australia, EU member states). This means: (1) Expats pay into NSSF while in Cambodia, AND may also need to maintain home-country pension contributions simultaneously. (2) NSSF contributions do not count toward home-country state pension entitlements. (3) UK nationals can pay voluntary National Insurance Class 2 contributions (~GBP 180/year in 2026) to maintain UK state pension record. (4) Australian expats should monitor superannuation guarantee obligations. (5) US citizens/residents must continue IRS filing regardless of Cambodian tax residence. Seek professional advice on double-contribution situations.
NSSF is a legally mandatory compliance obligation, not optional. Employers who fail to register workers face fines and back-payment obligations. NSSF registration does NOT replace the need for expat-grade private health insurance (international plan with Phnom Penh private hospital network and Bangkok evacuation coverage) and personal retirement savings. On departure from Cambodia, contact NSSF about your pension account status. Check whether your accumulated pension can be claimed on reaching retirement age internationally, or whether rules allow early refund on permanent departure. Rules are continuing to develop.
Social Security
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