Cambodia’s Social Health Insurance Scheme Extended to Tuk-Tuk Drivers

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Cambodia’s Social Health Insurance Extended to Tuk-Tuk Drivers
Cambodian tuk-tuk driver sitting in his vehicle. ( Photo : Travelse.asia )

Cambodian Tuk-Tuk drivers will now have access to a new social health insurance scheme as part of a pilot project starting April 1, designed to support informal workers.

The National Social Security Fund (NSSF), along with the Non-Government Organization GRET, and with the support of the Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD), launched the project to extend the social health insurance scheme to informal workers.

Tuk-Tuk drivers can apply for the scheme using their National ID and vehicle identification cards either at the NSSF headquarters or through the NSSFPilotScheme app. However, applicants must contribute KHR 15,600 riels (USD 3.86) a month to partner banks, and access to the scheme’s benefits will only be granted after two months of contributions.

Benefits include inpatient treatment at an NSSF-accredited health facility, as well as maternity and emergency services. According to Kiripost, self-employed workers make up 65% of the workforce in Cambodia.

The Director General of the NSSF hopes the pilot project will demonstrate the scheme’s ability to cover all informal workers. Meanwhile, the Deputy Director of GRET, Damien Thibaut, said the pilot scheme will increase solidarity among the people and ensure a more inclusive society that contributes to human development and sustainable development goals.

Earlier this year, NSSF, GRET, and AFD also signed an MOU to study the feasibility of including agricultural workers in the scheme.