1. The Basics: 90 Days of Maternity Leave
Under Article 182 of the Cambodian Labour Law, a woman is entitled to 90 days of maternity leave. It is separate from her annual leave — she keeps her normal annual leave entitlement (see our public holidays and leave guide).
Protection from dismissal: An employer may not dismiss a woman because she is pregnant or on maternity leave, and may not end her employment in a way that coincides with the end of her maternity leave.
2. Who Pays During Maternity Leave
Two sources of income can cover the 90 days:
| Source | Amount | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Employer (Article 183) | 50% of wages and benefits | At least one year of continuous service |
| NSSF maternity allowance | 70% of average wages (per NSSF rules) | Registered NSSF member who meets the contribution conditions |
When both apply, the government has described the total as up to 120% of the woman's normal wage. The NSSF conditions — for example, how many months of contributions are needed before the leave — are set by NSSF regulations and can change, so check the current rule with NSSF before you tell an employee what she will receive.
Tip: Keep NSSF contributions up to date for every employee. A missed registration or missed months of contributions is the most common reason a mother loses the NSSF allowance. Our NSSF registration guide walks through the steps.
3. Returning to Work
- Light work for two months: In the first two months after returning, she may only be asked to do light work (Article 182).
- Nursing breaks: For one year after the birth, a nursing mother gets one hour per day to breastfeed during working hours, usually as two 30-minute breaks, and this time is paid (Article 184).
- Nursing room and childcare: Larger workplaces with many women employees must provide a nursing room and childcare arrangements (Article 186).
4. Recording Maternity Leave in Attendance and Payroll
Maternity leave goes wrong in payroll when it is recorded as absence. Do it this way:
- Create a Maternity Leave leave type, separate from annual and sick leave.
- Record the start and end date of the 90 days, so those days are not counted as absent or late.
- Pay the employer's 50% share through payroll for the leave period, if she has one year of service.
- Keep NSSF contributions running as required, and keep the documents NSSF asks for.
- Plan the return date and the light-work period with her manager.
Example: Sophea earns $400 a month and has worked for you for 3 years. During each full month of maternity leave you pay her $200 (50%). If she qualifies, NSSF pays its maternity allowance separately.
5. How AttendKH Helps
In AttendKH you can set up leave types per company, including maternity leave. Approved leave days are skipped by the attendance system, so the employee is not marked absent or late, and payroll knows those days are leave, not absence — you then add the employer's 50% share for the period. The leave history stays on the employee's record if questions come up later.
6. Conclusion
Maternity leave in Cambodia is 90 days, paid 50% by the employer for women with at least a year of service, with an additional NSSF allowance for eligible members. Record it as its own leave type, keep NSSF contributions current, and plan the return to work.
Try AttendKH's leave and payroll tools — see pricing, get the app from downloads, or talk to our team.
