Under the Ship to Shore Rights South-East Asia programme, the International Labour Organization (ILO), with funding from the EU, is expanding access to information and assistance for migrant workers in Siem Reap province.
A newly established Migrant Worker Resource Centre (MRC) in Siem Reap is set to enhance awareness-raising and support services for prospective and returning Cambodian migrant workers, with a particular focus on those employed in the fishing and seafood processing sectors.
The MRC will be operated by the Phnom Srey Organisation for Development, in close coordination with the Provincial Department of Labour and Vocational Training.
Its activities include broadening access to training and information on safe migration and labour rights, strengthening the capacity of key stakeholders, providing legal assistance for labour-related complaints, and delivering livelihood and psycho-social support to facilitate the reintegration of returned migrant workers.
Migrant workers play a crucial role in Cambodia’s economic and social development. In 2024, remittances sent home by Cambodian migrant workers totalled nearly $3 billion, representing 6.1 per cent of GDP. These inflows significantly contribute to poverty reduction in rural areas and support nationwide economic growth.
“Labour migration has long provided an essential livelihood for the Cambodian people. Today, with the launch of the new MRC in Siem Reap, we are expanding the availability of information and services for Cambodian migrants and their family members,” said Koen Everaert, deputy head of cooperation for the EU Delegation in Cambodia.
“The EU is proud to support this initiative, which will empower thousands of workers and strengthen migrant communities in Cambodia,” he added.
The scale-up of services in Siem Reap comes at a critical time, following the large-scale return of Cambodian migrant workers during the recent border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand. Research by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the ILO indicates that returnees in Siem Reap have faced some of the highest levels of debt and unemployment during the early stages of reintegration.
“The ILO recognizes that this is a particularly challenging time for many returning Cambodian migrant workers despite the enormous efforts made by the Cambodian government. Working closely with the Cambodian Government, the MRCs play a vital role in delivering individualized and responsive support services to migrant workers and their families,” explained Xiaoyan Qian, ILO country director for Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.
“The establishment of this new centre in Siem Reap will build upon the existing MRC network and help to address the specific needs of migrant workers in the fishing and seafood processing sectors,” he added.
The Siem Reap MRC draws on the combined expertise of the Phnom Srey Organization for Development and the provincial labour department to promote safer migration pathways and improved working conditions for Cambodian migrant workers.
“The establishment of this MRC in Siem Reap represents an important step forward. It expands access to vital information and services and strengthens protection mechanisms for migrant fishers and seafood processing workers. I am confident that this MRC will foster stronger collaboration and support progress towards our shared objective of decent work for all Cambodian migrant workers,” noted labour ministry undersecretary of state Taing Phengrithy.
Ship to Shore Rights South-East Asia: Safe Migration for Decent Work in the Blue Economy is a regional programme funded by the EU and implemented by the ILO in partnership, with IOM and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. It aims to promote safe migration and decent work across fish and seafood supply chains in South-East Asia, addressing sector-specific vulnerabilities and risks that can lead to labour rights violations, forced labour and deficits in decent work.
