The question whether Cambodian migrant workers in Thailand will return home to better jobs and livelihood remains uncertain amid escalating tensions. Workers who returned to their hometown told Kiripost they still prefer to be in Thailand on the basis of better livelihood instead of prioritising security and safety. Meanwhile, analysts fear a shortage of suitable work for returning migrants during an economic slowdown.
Scores of Cambodian migrant workers in Thailand have returned home but worry about their future and the lack of high salary jobs, like the ones they held in Thailand, preferring instead to work there although conditions are not safe now, as they can save more money to support their children’s education.
According to them, they live better in Thailand because they can earn higher wages due to additional benefits, such as overtime pay of $2 to $6 per day, and lower daily living expenses, as transportation to and from their factory is free.
Labour and migrant worker analysts are concerned that Cambodian migrant workers, who return from Thailand, will struggle due to lower job opportunities with high salary as the garment sector faces pressure from US tariff and global economic slowdown.
Recall that Senate President Hun Sen urged migrant workers to return amid border tensions on June 16. “The government accepts all workers who are documented and undocumented. As long as they are Khmer people, we will allow our citizens to return home. Do not let them [Thais] insult or hurt you because racism against Cambodian workers is heating up,” he said.
Concerns of insufficient work
Khun Tharo, Programme Manager for the Centre for Alliance of Labour and Human Rights (CENTRAL), said the job market in Cambodia is “not resilient” to absorb the return of Cambodian migrant workers from Thailand yet. In addition, the outcome of the US tariff negotiations is uncertain, so the future of the workforce remains a blur.
“Regarding the call to migrant workers to return to Cambodia, I notice the government is not yet ready to welcome the workers because the economic situation is still weak,” he said.
“There are labour shortages in the textile, travel goods and footwear industries, with new factories opening recently; this could attract some labour since these factories need workers.”
But, he is concerned that the outcome of the tariff negotiations might affect the economy as the garment and textile sectors, which are the main job creation areas in Cambodia, are facing an uncertain future.
Yang Sophorn, President of the Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions (CATU), said migrant workers may return to lower salaries than in Thailand if they cannot find the same skill or work they are used to doing there.
She added that the garment sector does not have high job vacancies now like it did in the past due to economic issues, including the US tariff and global conflicts. “The [textile] industry will face further challenges in the future,” Sophorn opined.
Tharo echoed her sentiments, saying that there will be a shortage of better salaried jobs for migrant workers due to the economy and unstable employment market.
“The economic situation and challenges faced by those returning are related to extra expenditure, especially those who had jobs in Thailand with a consistent income. It is difficult for them to make decisions.
“There is [no] guarantee of finding other work or work with an income comparable to Thailand,” he said, questioning the future of these workers. “Thus, this case needs to be evaluated because there is no guarantee. If they decide to quit their work [in Thailand], can they get a suitable salary when they return?”
Lower wage barrier of returning home
Low wages in Cambodia compared to Thailand, economic pressure and debts are challenges that might discourage Cambodian workers to return home even though they are concerned about their safety, Tharo remarked.
According to him, the average minimum daily wages in Thailand by region and provinces, ranges from 337 to 400 baht (approximately $10.22 to $12.13). Therefore, they can earn approximately $307 to $364 a month based on current exchange rates. Thailand recently raised the minimum wage to 400 baht, Tharo said.
The Thai minimum wage is based on the cost of living that varies between regions and provinces in the country, according to the Notification of the Wage Committee on Minimum Wage Rate (No. 13) issued by Thailand’s Ministry of Labour.
In Cambodia, the minimum wage rose to $208 in the garment sector, which fell short of the demand of union workers and inflationary pressures, Phean Sophoan, National Director of Oxfam in Cambodia told Kiripost in a previous interview about the gap of poverty in Cambodia.
Vorn Pov, President of the Independent Association of Informal Economics, said the call to Cambodian migrant workers to return and work here is a “good gesture” and a sign of a responsible government which looks after the safety of citizens.
“In some industries in Cambodia, there are plenty of vacancies but whether the salary can help workers have a good living or not depends on their circumstances,” he said, contending that he is unsure if they can get a good salary under current conditions.
“However, it is a good opportunity for the Cambodian government to show their capability to find more opportunities for the migrant workers to get a good salary so that they don’t go back to Thailand anymore.”
Livelihood First, Safety Later
Chom Navit, 31, a female Cambodian migrant worker in Banteay Meanchey, told Kiripost last Thursday that she and her husband came back from Thailand for their own safety due to the border tensions, and to renew their visa.
Even though, Navit and her husband, Ly Sokhy, 39, are worried about the conflict and were discriminated by Thais at their workplace, she still preferred to work in Thailand and will return after her visa is renewed.
“We came back to renew our visa. If we don’t have a visa in Thailand, we will be arrested and jailed. We can continue to live there like normal with a visa,” Sokhy told Kiripost via telephone. He added that he and his wife are staying in their house in Banteay Meachey with their two children and old parents.
Sokhy and his wife have lived in Thailand for about three years and work in a car assembly plant.
He said the Thai police normally come to check migrant Cambodian workers at their living quarters to see if they have a proper visa to work in Thailand. If they have valid visas, they can stay and continue working there. Those without, will be arrested and risk being jailed. They would need to ask their employer to bail them.
“We worry about [the Thailand-Cambodia conflict] when we read the news on Facebook. Workers have been arrested where we work, so we also feel threatened,” he said, recalling feeling anxious during his time in Thailand as the conflict escalated between the two nations.
“Our work is not like how it was previously, because Thai people are starting to discriminate against us. Some workplaces are starting to not respect us like before,” Sokhy added.
“Before the conflict, we worked with them like normal but there is discrimination now. If there are many Cambodian workers, they talk to us like normal. But if there are only a few Cambodian workers and more Thai workers, they will discriminate against us.”
In addition, the Thai police have actively started checking on Cambodian workers in relation to their visas. Sokhy has also been frequently questioned as to when he will leave Thailand.
The story is firstly published on Kiripost