The International Labour Organization (ILO), through its EU-funded Ship to Shore Rights South-East Asia and PROTECT programmes, provided crucial support to Cambodian migrant workers returning from Thailand amid the recent border conflict. Over 6,700 returnees, predominantly women, were assisted in provinces including Banteay Meanchey, Koh Kong, Takeo, Kampong Speu, Kampong Cham, and Siem Reap with emergency information and services. The support came in response to escalating tensions and armed conflict along the Cambodia-Thailand border in July 2025, which triggered the return of hundreds of thousands of migrants.
In adapting its programming, the ILO partnered with six civil society organizations and trade unions to deliver essential information on local employment, labor rights, and safe migration to returnees at border checkpoints. Vulnerable migrants also received basic aid packages to address immediate needs. Upon returning to their communities, migrants were offered reintegration counseling, access to justice through wage claim case management, and support for long-term employment through job matching and vocational training referrals. Women returnees benefited from peer networks and psycho-social support.
Xiaoyan Qian, Director of the ILO Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia, and Lao PDR, emphasized that the ILO’s interventions complemented government assistance and were critical for ensuring the livelihoods and welfare of returning workers. To better target services, a rapid needs assessment of 815 returnees across eight provinces was conducted by the Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL). This assessment highlighted immediate humanitarian needs, economic conditions, and future livelihood plans, informing both service delivery and policy advocacy.
A key issue identified was the challenge of unpaid wages, with many migrants facing financial distress upon return. Through collaboration with legal assistance providers such as Legal Support for Children and Women, the ILO helped resolve complaints for 94 migrants, recovering nearly US$20,000, while additional cases continue to receive support. Bryan Fornari, Head of Cooperation for the EU Delegation in Cambodia, noted that the programmes’ end-to-end support ensures sustainable reintegration and addresses long-term structural vulnerabilities faced by migrant workers.
