People observe International Migrants Day in Kampong Svay commune and district in Kampong Thom province on December 18. CENTRAL
The 24th anniversary of International Migrants Day was celebrated under the theme “Safe Migration” on December 18, with senior officials from the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training highlighting the authority’s ongoing efforts to support Cambodian workers abroad in gaining additional work experience and skills.
Katta Orn, spokesperson for the ministry, emphasised the body’s commitment to aiding Cambodians working overseas.
“As of 2023, an estimated 1.3 million Cambodian migrant workers have been employed in countries such as Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore and others. We have undertaken six significant tasks to enhance the working conditions of migrant workers,” he said.
He said the initiatives include: reinforcing labour attache services and collaborating with support centres for migrant workers in target countries; strengthening the inspection of private recruitment agencies’ activities; providing assistance to migrant workers, including facilitating legal protection documents and intervention in times of risk; addressing general issues faced by migrant workers; offering medicinal and food assistance; and initiating a mobile social security scheme for migrant workers within ASEAN.
The Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL) issued a press statement regarding the promotion of rights and social protection for migrant workers.
The statement acknowledged the day as a moment to increase awareness among policymakers and relevant partners about the important contributions of migrant workers to economies, societies and cultures, as well as the challenges and needs they face.
Dy The Hoya, migration programme director at CENTRAL, mentioned that the centre had observed the day in 16 locations across six provinces – Kampong Thom, Siem Reap, Preah Vihear, Banteay Meanchey, Battambang and Pursat.
He stressed that migration and immigration for employment are individual rights and choices, free from coercion and that workers are permitted to seek employment, enhance their income and develop their preferred skills at will.
“The government has implemented the Policy on Labour Migration for Cambodia 2019-2023, along with regulations related to labour migration management, advocating an ethical process for worker recruitment. However, in practice, we face problems, challenges and obstacles in effectively, transparently and responsibly initiating this process,” he stated.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), four ASEAN countries are the largest exporters of workers: the Philippines with over 6.1 million, Indonesia with nearly 5 million, Myanmar with more than 3.7 million and Vietnam with over 3.4 million.
According to the group, the primary destinations for ASEAN workers include North America, Europe and major countries in the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as developed countries in Asia.
“Migrant workers are employed in various sectors such as domestic service, construction, agriculture, industry and hospitality. Approximately $504 billion flows into poorer and lower-income countries, with around 169 million migrant workers worldwide. India has the largest number of migrant workers, with over 18 million individuals travelling abroad for work, followed by Mexico, China and Russia,” the report stated.
Cambodia has over 1.3 million citizens working in countries like Thailand, South Korea, Japan and other developed nations. Annually, they remit more than $1 billion to support the national economy, as per the ministry.
