As reports continue to flood in detailing rampant abuse of Cambodian migrant workers abroad, the Cambodian Migrant Worker’s Association (CMWA) said it would be registering with the Ministry of Interior today as the country’s first migrant workers representative organization, according to its director.
“The idea is it would be for migrant workers to have an actual organization comprised of workers advocating on behalf of workers,” said David Welsh, country director at the American Center for International Labor Solidarity.
While its mandate is broad—the group intends to cover everyone from day laborers crossing at Poipet to construction workers in Qatar—the six-board-member CMWA will be the sole representative voice of the workers.
“Right now, the government and ACRA [Association of Cambodian Recruitment Agencies] control the entire industry and say they’re acting on behalf of the workers. But since when does the industry act on behalf of workers rights?” he asked.
Mong Puthy, vice president of the migrant workers association, said one of his highest priorities would be addressing illegal migration to Thailand. While Malaysia has been making headlines in recent weeks over a raft of revelations concerning employer cruelty toward Cambodian workers, Thailand is no less beset with stories of exploitation. Precise figures are impossible to come by, but rights groups estimate tens of thousands are working as virtual slaves in the Thai fishing industry.
“The Cambodian government has not yet fulfilled their duty to resolve the matter occurring, nor put enough mechanisms in place yet to protect the migrants working in Thailand,” said Mr Puthy. “We are still concerned the brokers are often cheating or illegally taking people across the borders to find risky jobs.”
Both ACRA and representatives of the Ministry of Labor said they looked forward to working with the new group.
“We welcome if they have a union. It’s a very good thing for Cambodia and we will work with them,” said An Bunhak, ACRA president.
