A new Migrant Worker Resource Centre (MRC) has been established in Siem Reap province to strengthen awareness and support services for potential and returning Cambodian migrant workers, especially those in the fishing and seafood processing sectors. Operated by the Phnom Srey Organization for Development in close collaboration with the Provincial Department of Labour and Vocational Training, the centre aims to expand access to training and informational materials on safe migration and labour rights, provide capacity building for key stakeholders, deliver legal assistance for complaints, and offer livelihoods and psycho-social services to support reintegration of returned migrant workers.
Cambodian migrant workers play a significant role in the country’s economic and social development, with remittances reaching nearly US$3 billion in 2024, equivalent to 6.1 percent of Cambodia’s GDP. These financial flows contribute substantially to reducing rural poverty and supporting nationwide economic growth. The European Union supports the initiative, highlighting that the MRC will empower thousands of workers and strengthen migrant communities in Cambodia.
The expansion of services in Siem Reap is particularly timely following the mass return of Cambodian migrant workers during the recent border conflict with Thailand. Research by ILO and IOM shows that returnees in the province face high rates of debt and unemployment in the early stages of returning home. The MRCs provide individualized and responsive support services to address these challenges and meet the specific needs of workers in the fishing and seafood processing sectors.
The Siem Reap MRC combines the expertise of Phnom Srey Organization for Development and the Provincial Department of Labour and Vocational Training to improve safe migration and promote decent work for Cambodian migrant workers. It will expand access to vital information and services and strengthen protection mechanisms for migrant fishers and seafood processing workers. The initiative contributes to broader objectives of decent work for all Cambodian migrant workers and fosters stronger collaboration among stakeholders.
This initiative is part of the EU-funded regional programme “Ship to Shore Rights South-East Asia: Safe Migration for Decent Work in the Blue Economy,” implemented by ILO in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The programme promotes safe migration and decent work across the fish and seafood supply chain, addressing vulnerabilities and risks that migrant workers face, including labour rights abuses and forced labour.
