MP Son Chhay’s Meeting with governor of Bangkok

MP Son Chhay and Governor of Bangkok M.R. Patribatra (Photo: Bangkok governor office) 

On June 5, 2012, MP Son Chhay met with Governor of Bangkok M.R. Sukhumbhand Patribatra to discuss on the situation of Cambodian workers in this city.

At the meeting MP Son Chhay requested for protection of Khmer workers whose are currently working in Bangkok. It approximates that at least 50,000 Cambodian are working in various jobs in Bangkok and around 200,000 are in various provinces of Thailand. There are only about 50,000 workers who have registered to legally working in Thailand and the rest took their own risk in crossing the border and many have encountered all kind of abuses.

Chronic poverty, landlessness are compelling many rural Cambodians to the urban areas or neighbouring countries to seek work. The high demand for less skilled labourers in 3D jobs (dangerous, demanding and dirty) in countries such as Thailand and Malaysia has provided the opportunity for many young Cambodians to find employment there but with lacking of care and protection from current government in Phnom Penh, these workers are left in the cold.

Governor of Bangkok, M.R. Sukhumbhand Patrbatra kindly promised that he would treat Cambodian workers fairly and would provide them the right access to health care and other services in the same way as of Thai citizen.