Cambodian Migrant Workers Are Returning from Thailand: Labour Trafficking in Mekong | Mekong Matters

Border tensions between Cambodia and Thailand have pushed thousands of Cambodian migrant workers to return home. They face debt, unemployment, and heightened risk of labour trafficking. In this Mekong Matters episode, Trang Nguyen speaks with Moeun Tola, the Executive Director of the Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL), about:- How 2 million Cambodians working in Thailand are affected by conflict and xenophobia- Debt bondage (51% of adult Cambodians in debt) and why “legal” recruitment can still be trafficking- Passport withholding, forced labour, and the hidden mechanics of labour exploitation- The vulnerabilities of low-skilled workers and migrant families with children- What needs to change: agricultural reform, social land concessions, start-up capital, processing industries, market access- The urgent need for real law enforcementChapters:0:00 Trafficking victims need protection, not punishment0:39 Episode intro and context1:08 Border conflict and mass returns from Thailand2:05 Jobs, debt, and Cambodia’s employment reality3:47 Who’s most vulnerable and why5:06 Debt bondage and “legal” labour trafficking explained7:24 Migration by choice vs. necessity; regional risks9:17 Long-term solutions: land, capital, and markets12:14 Awareness campaigns, youth volunteers, and broker pushbackIf you found this useful:- Subscribe for more episodes of Mekong Matters- Share this episode to raise awareness- Learn more about GI-TOC’s work: globalinitiative.net#MekongMatters #Cambodia #MigrantWorkers #LabourTrafficking #DebtBondage #HumanRights #Thailand #Migration #CENTRAL #GITOCThis podcast has been funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The views expressed in this publication are the author's alone and are not necessarily the views of the Australian Government.