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Hundreds of thousands of Cambodian migrant workers are streaming home from Thailand as armed clashes along the border disrupt livelihoods and sow fear across both nations. A fragile ceasefire, brokered by Malaysia with backing from the US and China, has paused the violence—but uncertainty remains.

 

The July conflict, which left 43 dead and displaced over 260,000 people, has triggered a mass exodus. Cambodia’s Ministry of Labour estimates that 65% of its 1.2 million nationals working in Thailand have now returned. Many cite fear of renewed fighting, social unrest, and rumours of land seizures as reasons for leaving.

 

Among them is 56-year-old poultry worker Kri Phart, who packed his belongings after reading a Facebook post from Prime Minister Hun Manet urging migrants to return. “I didn’t want to be the last Cambodian migrant in Thailand,” he said, joining thousands crossing the Daung International Border Gate under blistering heat.

 

For many, the return home means financial hardship. Migrants like Thouk Houy, 26, who supported her parents with monthly remittances from a leather factory job near Bangkok, now face an uncertain future. “I don’t know how I can do that now that I am back home,” she said.

 

Cambodian workers play vital roles in Thailand’s agriculture, construction, and manufacturing sectors, sending home nearly $3 billion annually. Their sudden departure threatens not only household incomes but also broader economic stability. Nathan Green, a geography professor at the National University of Singapore, warned that the crisis exposes the fragility of migrant livelihoods.

 

Advocacy groups are calling for urgent support. The Khmer Movement for Democracy has urged the Cambodian government to defer loan repayments and offer incentives to employers willing to hire returnees. “We are talking about the poorest of the poor,” said its president, Mu Sochua.

 

Despite reassurances from officials that jobs await, many remain sceptical. Meng Yeam, a former factory manager in Chonburi, said over 90% of his Cambodian colleagues have fled. “I hope we can work in Thailand again one day,” he said. “But who knows—maybe I’ll be retired by the time we stop fighting.”

 

As the ceasefire holds, the question remains: will peace last long enough to rebuild lives on both sides of the border?

 

 

-2025-08-13

Thai farmers, "where are my laborers?"