UN Analysis Final.pdf - United Nations in Cambodia

Table 5-10. Youth unemployment rates
Criteria Total Male Female Phnom Penh Other Urban Rural
Unemployment using ‘strict’ definition
15 - 19 1.4 1.3 1.4 6.2 2.7 0.9
20 - 24 1.6 1.9 1.2 7.8 1.4 0.8
15 - 24 1.5 1.6 1.3 7.2 2.1 0.9
Unemployment using ‘relaxed’ definition
15 - 19 7.9 7.3 8.5 24.8 10.1 6.2
20 - 24 6.5 5.4 7.6 16.6 7.1 5.1
15 - 24 7.2 6.4 8 20.1 8.6 5.7
Source: CSES 2004
5.3. YOUTH HEALTH AND EMPLOYMENT
Economic shocks and poverty are key factors that push young people into work. Limited education,
poor knowledge and lack of skills additionally place youth, particularly from the rural poor, in extremely
vulnerable working conditions. As found by this study, destitute households expect their children to engage
in income-generating work to supplement earnings. Youths sell their labour, migrate, and work for low pay
in hazardous conditions as means of accessing employment opportunities. FGDs for this study reveal that
low education and lack of a social network pose major barriers, and leave them trapped in hazardous
work conditions, as they are exposed to workplace toxin/chemical hazards that have long-term health
repercussions. This study found that youth and work-related vulnerability occurs in various forms and impacts
upon this population group in a variety of different ways.
Losing a job or being jobless, whether short or long term, can impact badly on young people’s livelihoods. In
Poipet, young people said that, despite their hard work, their jobs remain largely uncertain and render their
future hopeless. Many live in social environments that expose them to drug use, potential HIV infection and
youth gangs. Of particular concern are those who work along the borders or in Thailand as cart pullers.
The impairment to physical, mental, and social health as a consequence of long and harsh working conditions
at this critical stage of life has permanent effects on the quality of adult life (MoLVT 2008b). The lack of
adequate hygiene and sanitation in young people’s work places and living quarters pose health-related
problems that are exacerbated by a lack of access to health services.
Health conditions of people working in Thailand are very bad…they work extremely hard... and the owner
forces them to use drugs in order to accelerate their physical strength…most of them want come back
to work in the country... – Discussion with Banteay Meanchey Provincial Department of Labour and
Vocational Training
While at work we need to work very hard, every day we don’t have enough food to eat so our health rapidly
goes down. We finally quit the job and become jobless…there is nothing else we can do.... – Street Youth
in Poipet
Field interviews with young people disclosed that available health services for workers are considerably
limited. The expense of healthcare is, likewise, a barrier for them when viewed against the current inflation
rate and increasing food prices, as their salaries are no longer sufficient to meet monthly and other expenses.
Situation Analysis of Youth in Cambodia
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