Cambodian Migrants Face Debt and Crisis After Return

A new report has laid bare the struggles of Cambodian migrant workers forced to return from Thailand during last year’s border conflict. The assessment, published by the Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL), reveals a humanitarian emergency marked by debt, poor health, and inadequate labour protection.

Between July and December 2025, at least 900,000 Cambodians crossed back into their homeland — one of the largest sudden migration reversals since the pandemic. Many financed their own return, often paying unofficial fees and bribes at border crossings. For some, the journey itself created new debt.

Debt now sits at the heart of the crisis. Over 70 percent of returnees reported owing money, with average household debt at $5,500. Across the sample, total debt exceeded $2 million, and most households admitted they could not keep up with repayments. With limited assistance available — only 30 percent received any form of support, usually short-term food or transport — families are left struggling.

Livelihoods remain precarious. Returnees reported an average monthly income of just $64, less than half of their typical expenses. Attempts to find work locally were marred by wage theft, unsafe conditions, and misleading offers. Many households are caught between mounting debts and the absence of secure employment.

CENTRAL’s report calls for urgent measures. Recommendations include expanding social protection through cash aid and health fee waivers, accelerating job recovery with safe worksites and transparent wages, and fast-tracking vocational training paired with temporary health coverage. Targeted debt relief and stronger migration pathways are also urged to prevent workers from being pushed back into unsafe, irregular routes once borders reopen.

The findings highlight how border tensions have left thousands of families trapped in a cycle of poverty and insecurity. For Cambodia, the challenge now is not only to support those who returned but to ensure future migration is safer, fairer, and better protected.

-2026-03-30