Migration
Informal migration for labor
Cross-border day workers decry closed checkpoints
Cambodian workers on Saturday protested against the closing of unofficial border checkpoints in Banteay Meanchey, while hundreds of undocumented workers continued to return from Thailand through the official checkpoint in Poipet. ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya and Leonie Kijewski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cross-border-day-workers-decry-closed-checkpoints
Passport fees to be investigated
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has officially instructed the Cambodian Embassy in Malaysia to investigate agencies that ask for exorbitant passport renewal fees for workers there, according to a statement released on Friday, though some sources said corruption in the Passport Department itself is part ...
Leonie Kijewski and Niem Chheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/passport-fees-be-investigated
Centers in Thailand to grant migrant workers travel documents
The Thai government has agreed to set up stations across Thailand where Cambodian illegal migrant workers can register for documents that will allow them to stay and work in the country, Labor Minister Ith Sam Heng said at a news conference on Thursday. ...
Chhorn Phearun and Hannah Hawkins
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/centers-in-thailand-to-grant-migrant-workers-travel-documents-132234/
Workers fear arrest in Malaysia
Cambodian workers continue to fear arrest and deportation amid an ongoing crackdown on undocumented migrant workers in Malaysia, with local media reporting that 2,000 migrants have been arrested since the beginning of the month as of yesterday. ...
Yon Sineat and Leonie Kijewski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/workers-fear-arrest-malaysia
Cambodian migrant workers return from Thailand
Despite the Thai government’s temporary backtracking on its harsh punishments of undocumented migrant workers, hundreds of Cambodians working in Thailand continued to pour back into their home country yesterday. ...
Leonie Kijewski and Yon Sineat
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cambodian-migrant-workers-return-thailand
Confusion drives more legal, illegal workers from Thailand
Hundreds of fearful and confused Cambodian migrant workers—including those with legal documentation—are continuing to flee Thailand, workers said on Tuesday, even as both the Cambodian and Thai governments called for calm among the migrant workforce. ...
Chhorn Phearun and Hannah Hawkins
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/second/confusion-drives-legal-illegal-workers-thailand-132138/
Unofficial crossings into Thailand closed
The Cambodian government closed all unofficial border checkpoints in Banteay Meanchey and Battambang in an apparent response to Thailand’s laws imposing stricter punishments on migrant workers. ...
Yon Sineat and Leonie Kijewski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/unofficial-crossings-thailand-closed
Thailand backs off law on migrants
Facing a backlash from employers and observers alike, Thailand has backtracked on a new, heavily criticised law that imposes stricter punishments on irregular workers and their employers, though thousands of Cambodians are still being deported. ...
Yon Sineat and Leonie Kijewski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/thailand-backs-law-migrants
Embassy calls for calm as workers flee Thai factories
The Cambodian embassy in Bangkok has called on illegal workers not to leave Thailand as officials attempt to negotiate a deal to allow migrants to stay in their jobs. ...
Sen David
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/39903/embassy-calls--for-calm-as-workers-flee-thai-factories/
Spike in workers deported
Immigration police say there has been a spike in the number of Cambodian migrant workers being deported from Thailand following a royal decree on the management of foreign workers. ...
Ros Chanveasna
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/39855/spike-in-workers-deported/
Ministry to examine passport fees for Malaysia migrants
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will investigate exorbitant passport fees for migrant workers in Malaysia, the ministry’s spokesman said late last week, following an investigation by The Post that found Cambodians in the country were forced to pay up to $800 for renewals. ...
Leonie Kijewski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ministry-examine-passport-fees-malaysia-migrants
Opposition requests migrant-friendly voter registration process
The opposition once again will ask the government to make upcoming voter registration more accessible to an estimated 1 million migrant workers by increasing the number of registration centers near the Thai border. ...
Ben Paviour and Ben Sokhean
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/opposition-requests-migrant-friendly-voter-registration-process-131633/
‘Hostages’ swapped with Thailand
Incensed by Thai authorities’ arrest of their family members, residents of Banteay Meanchey’s Thma Puok district took conflict resolution into their own hands on Saturday by holding Thai trucks hostage on their side of the border for days until Thai and Cambodian officials agreed to ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/hostages-swapped-thailand
2011 ban on maids working in Malaysia lifted months ago
The government lifted a 2011 ban on sending Cambodian maids to Malaysia in January, according to a directive Prime Minister Hun Sen signed late last year, contradicting months of government denials. ...
Zsombor Peter and Phan Soumy
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/2011-ban-maids-working-malaysia-lifted-months-ago-131127/
Government approves agencies to send workers abroad
The Labour Ministry has announced the names of 77 private recruitment agencies approved to select, train and send Cambodian workers to Thailand, Malaysia and Japan. ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/39112/government-approves-agencies-to-send-workers-abroad/
Protesters block Thai trucks at border
Hundreds of people protested on Friday by blocking 28 Thai trucks on the Cambodian side of the Boeung Trakoun border market in Banteay Meanchey province after Thai authorities arrested 13 Cambodian workers. ...
Ros Chanveasna
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/39035/protesters-block-thai-trucks-at-border/
Building site arrests
A joint operation between government and city officials resulted in the arrests of 51 Chinese and 42 Vietnamese for illegally entering Cambodia and working without the correct permits. ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/38902/building-site-arrests/
Labor activist seeks aid for migrant workers who may be unable to vote
A labor rights activist has appealed to the government to assist migrant workers in Thailand to cast their votes at the up coming commune council elections.A small number of the roughly 1 million Cambodian workers in Thailand who have managed to register to vote will ...
Men Kimseng
http://www.voacambodia.com/a/labor-activist-seeks-aid-for-migrant-workers-who-may-be-unable-to-vote/3875970.html
Thais crack down on illegal workers
Thai soldiers on Thursday detained four Cambodian men, three women and a one-month old baby after they crossed the border to find work. The Cambodian Consulate in Thailand’s Sa Keao province said it quickly secured the release of the group, who were from Sout Nikom ...
Ros Chanveasna
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/38801/thais-crack-down-on-illegal-workers/
New Hong Kong maid deal raises old concerns over abuse
Employment agencies in Hong Kong are already raising doubts about the likely success of a pilot program that could see hundreds of Cambodians start arriving later this year to work as maids, only a day after a deal creating the program was signed, according to ...
Zsombor Peter
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/new-hong-kong-maid-deal-raises-old-concerns-over-abuse-128623/
Migrant workers rescued from Thai lockup
Thai police have rescued 65 Cambodians, including five children, from a two-story shop house near Rong Kluea market in Sakeo province where they had been locked up for three days. ...
Pav Suy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/37778/migrant-workers-rescued-from-thai-lockup/
Vietnamese workers face deportation
The Immigration Department has detained 27 Vietnamese migrants suspected of being in Cambodia illegally. The undocumented workers, 20 men and seven women, were arrested on Friday in Phnom Penh’s Toul Kork district. ...
Ros Chanveasna
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/37686/vietnamese-workers-face-deportation/
Hundreds caught at illegal border crossings
Banteay Meanchey provincial police intercepted hundreds of Cambodian laborers as they tried to cross illegally to Thailand over the weekend. ...
Khuon Narim
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/37684/hundreds-caught-at-illegal-border-crossings/
Thais deport 60 illegal workers
Nearly 60 Cambodian workers were sent home from Thailand yesterday after crossing the border illegally to return to work following Khmer New Year. ...
May Titthara
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/37568/thais-deport-60-illegal-workers/