Thai border dispute leaves Cambodian migrant workers with an unclear present
In recent months, tensions between Cambodia and Thailand have escalated over disputes over pockets of land along their shared 800-kilometer (500-mile) border. This escalation has led to a significant exodus of Cambodian migrant workers from Thailand, with over 780,000 of an estimated 1.2 million workers having fled since June 2025.
The current situation for these returnees is challenging. Many are facing immediate loss of income and uncertainty about job prospects at home, which severely impacts their livelihoods and family support systems. For Thailand, the mass departure of Cambodian migrant workers has created a critical labor shortage, particularly in key sectors like agriculture and construction.
The Thai government and Labour Ministry are responding by planning to register undocumented migrant workers already in the country and exploring new international labor sources, including bringing in workers from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the Philippines to replace the Cambodian workforce.
Looking ahead, the future outlook suggests a complex transition period. Cambodia must find ways to absorb returning workers who previously relied on Thai jobs that provided better wages, while Thailand aims to reduce reliance on Cambodian migrant labor over time by rebalancing with more Thai workers and automation. However, many returnees express concerns about insufficient employment opportunities in Cambodia, which could lead to prolonged economic hardship for families dependent on remittances.
The situation remains sensitive due to ongoing security concerns, the need for careful management of labor flows, and efforts to stabilize the affected border regions to prevent further displacement. The Khmer Movement for Democracy has urged the government to defer loan payments and provide incentives for companies to hire returning migrant workers.
One returning worker, Thouk Houy, a worker at a leather factory south of Bangkok, has returned to Cambodia due to a combination of factors including spats with Cambodian co-workers, her mother's pleas for her to return home, and claims by a former Cambodian Prime Minister that Thailand was preparing to invade. Another returnee, Kri Phart, a 56-year-old poultry worker, has returned to Cambodia due to fear of the border conflict.
The border disputes between Cambodia and Thailand have not only caused mass migration and economic disruption, but they also underscore the intertwined economic and political challenges of bilateral border disputes and labor migration in the region. A fragile ceasefire brokered by Malaysia, with backing from the US and China, is currently holding, offering a glimmer of hope for a peaceful resolution to this ongoing conflict.
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