Labor Story In Thailand

[Saiyan]

About a year and a half ago we moved to Thailand and built a house on the farm deep in side the area, away from any civilization. Around us we have other farmers growing mainly sugar cane and cassava. Being only 10 Km from the Cambodian boarder, as the crow flies, the farmers in this area use Cambodian labor for the planting and cutting of the sugar cane and cassava.

It all started one day when a Cambodian guy and three small children came to the house to ask for some water. The wife seeing that the kids were dirty and unkempt decided to shower the kids and powdered them, gave them some water, fruit and some clothes and sent them on their way. Ever so humble and grateful the children and the father graciously thanked my wife and left.

Since then we have had many visits from the Cambodian labor and every time the wife showers the kids with soap, shampoo and powder and makes them feel like human beings again and gives them clothes and food to take home and more often than not we treat them for infected wounds and flue.

Initially I was not involved but started to become involved when the wife asked me to treat the wounds and ailments of those that needed it, and since then they have somehow crept into my heart and I now have a concern for their plight. Not being a softy and more often than not turning a blind eye I was happy to live life without the worry of the plight of others. However these people seem to have a sincerity and honesty about them with no expectations that it makes it hard to ignore. I am absolutely certain that should we give them only the water they ask for, they would be more than grateful and be on their way.

The flow of Cambodian labor has steadily increased over the months and has now become a regular occurrence.

Today we had a group of five children ranging from a less than a year old baby boy three girls and a about a six year old boy with a woman at about 18 years old. (Presumably the mother of the baby) The baby and one of the other girls had a bad bout of flue and the six year old boy and the young lady had infectious wounds. We showered the lot in our outdoor shower and treated the flue and wounds and gave the children some T-shirts of mine that was tied with string through the sleeves to make them fit and to stop them from falling off. Ever so great full and proud, off they went with a supplement of fruit and food.

Rarely do we see the same people twice.

My concerns are as follows:

I have a feeling that through word and mouth we have become known to be a safe haven for health and generosity to the Cambodian labor and that we can ill afford to purchase or continuously supply clothes for the children that arrive here.

Not wishing to knock anyone but surely as an employer taking advantage of a cheap labor force you are obliged to see and be concerned for the people that you employ.

Or has the world become so obsessed with making money that people are of no concern?

[Sakeopete]

My wife and I farm near the Cambodian border in Aranyaprathet. We use Cambodian labor also and I see the same as you many wounded or sick. They stay at our farm where we have a huge pond that they bathe and get fish from. I have bought antibiotics and mended several wounds also but at our farm as we live in the city. Also we have many trees and I let them help themselves to the fruit plus buy them GOOD food. The Thais are less than generous and many rip off the Cambodians by not paying them or making a deal with police to steal the money after they pay the Cambodians. MY mother-in-law is well know for her kindness and honesty, many of the work groups in our area give their money to her to hold on to until the end of the season. Once they return across the border my mother-in-law goes and gives their money to them. It has payed off being nice to them because during planting and harvesting time we have no problems getting workers.

[plachon]

Yes, Cambodians, like the Burmese and Lao, are mostly considered just as cheap labour in Thailand and heavily exploited. Thanks for relating your experiences which paint the Cambos in a slightly different light than the normal "bandit" stereotype. Of course there is going to be the odd tea-leaf amongst any group of people, but these posts show they are mostly just ordinary folks trying to survive in pretty grim circumstances at the bottom of the economic heap in Thailand. I'm sure your generosity makes an immense difference to their lives. Maybe you could think about starting a small foundation and tapping your friends and relatives back in farangland to start making the odd donation? That's how most NGO's get started.

On a broader scale, the immigrant labour situation is all pretty Dickensian when one thinks about it, and shows one of the downsides of greater regionalisation, before decent labour laws are fully implemented and policed. The long term impacts on society of this fluid labour market around mainland SE Asia are going to be a big challenge for Thailand and her neighbours for many years to come, I suspect. In the meantime, individual acts of kindness can make a difference for the few who recieve it.

[bruceboy]

very sad.

[disgruntled]

Great compassion. You are on the side of good. Thanks.