The International Labour Organization (ILO) reported that it has provided more than 6,700 migrant workers coming home from Thailand with emergency information and services, the majority of them women. The recipients were in Banteay Meanchey, Koh Kong, Takeo, Kampong Speu, Kampong Cham and Siem Reap provinces.
A November 27 press release form the UN agency said they had adapted their programme to this emergency, working alongside six civil society organisations and trade unions. They provided essential information about local employment opportunities, labour rights and safe migration to returnees at border checkpoints. Basic aid packages were also provided to vulnerable migrants in border areas.
“During the last few months, the ILO and its partners have supported Cambodian migrant workers to obtain decent work and reintegrate sustainably into their communities of origin. Complementing the Cambodian government’s assistance for returnees, these efforts have been critical to ensuring that the livelihoods and welfare of these vulnerable workers is safeguarded,” said Xiaoyan Qian, director of the ILO Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.
According to recent reports, only about 100,000 Cambodian migrant workers remain in Thailand after a huge influx came home when the border disputes and armed conflict between the two countries occurred in July. It was estimated that about 1.2 million Cambodians worked in Thailand before the conflict began.
Recent reports by Thai media outlets suggested that among those who remain in Thailand, 90,000 may have expired work permits.
To assist returnees, the ILO and their partner NGOs have provided information and reintegration counselling through local volunteers who were trained and mobilised. They are also offering help with job matching services and referrals for vocational training to assist returnees with accessing new employment opportunities.
“Peer support for women returnees was provided through a network of migrant women, as well as psycho-social counselling and support,” said the release.
A total of $20,000 in financial remedies has been awarded to migrants and dozens more continue to receive legal support to respond to their grievances, said ILO.
The assistance was provided under the framework of the EU-funded Ship to Shore Rights South-East Asia and PROTECT programmes, according to the release.
“These programmes have been able to deliver responsive services to support the sustainable reintegration of migrant returnees, while continuing to address the long-term structural vulnerabilities of migrant workers headed abroad. We strongly support the work of these initiatives to ensure that Cambodian migrants are provided with end-to-end support,” said Bryan Fornari, head of cooperation for the EU Delegation in Cambodia.
