O’SMACH, Oddar Meanchey – The first signs of a large exodus of Cambodians from Thailand’s Surin province were the five truckloads of personal effects belonging to the workers. Thai-registered trucks crossed the border at Cambodia’s O’Smach checkpoint in Oddar Meanchey province at about 8am yesterday, carrying household products from mini refrigerators, television sets to fishing rods, rice cookers and bags and bags of personal effects.

 

The waiting army personnel, numbering 55 along with 25 army trucks, health officials and border security personnel quickly sprung into action and waited at the border gate, mere metres away from the Thai side on Thailand’s Surin province. They came on foot, individually or in groups of twos, fives and up to 30 at a time and continued streaming in steadily and swiftly for more than an hour and half.

 

They had earlier gathered 10 kilometres away on the Thai side of the border called Kab Jerng, many of them since Monday evening and some arriving at the said point early in the morning. Khloak Huot, Director of Oddar Meanchey Provincial Health Department, said that in the past few days, the number of workers returning to Cambodia through the O’Smach border check point numbered between 150 and 200 but on Monday and yesterday the numbers were extraordinarily high.

 

read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50809845/fleeing-home-in-droves-migrant-trains-walk-across-border-in-the-hundreds/

Oh dear. Thais having to do their own farming, gardening, building, shrimp packing, market trading. However will they cope?

Probably as they don't want the Thai authorities sealing them up in factories for a month

Getting out before they get locked up in a sweat shop.

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Getting out before they get locked up in a sweat shop.

That horse already bolted. They came to work in sweat shops!