Worker exodus triggered by ongoing dispute
The border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have led to a significant exodus of Cambodian migrant workers, with estimates suggesting that approximately 780,000 to over 900,000 workers have returned to their home country since mid-August 2025.
Before the border disputes escalated in June, Cambodia's Ministry of Labor estimated that around 1.2 million Cambodians were working in Thailand. Since then, over 65% of these workers have returned home. By August 13, border authorities reported that more than 900,000 Cambodians had returned from Thailand.
The mass return was primarily driven by fears of losing land and citizenship imposed by a Cambodian government deadline on August 13, 2025, alongside reports of attacks on migrant workers and deteriorating safety in Thailand.
Many of these returning workers had jobs in sectors like agriculture and manufacturing. For instance, workers in a leather factory near Bangkok were among those who had to leave. The sudden return threatens labor shortages, reducing productivity in these sectors in Thailand since Cambodian migrants provide a significant portion of the workforce.
On the Cambodian side, returnees face uncertain employment prospects and income loss, which may affect their families economically.
Sahassawat Kumkong, a People's Party MP for Chon Buri, reported a rapid and unexpected decline in Cambodian workers in Thailand's eastern provinces. Farmers in provinces like Chanthaburi are beginning to feel the strain due to the departure of Cambodian migrant workers.
The Migrant Working Group (MWG) agrees with a proposal to import workers from Sri Lanka to replace the departing Cambodian workers. The MWG has expressed growing fears of labor shortages in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors, especially in border provinces.
The National Security Council has confirmed the scale of the outflow of Cambodian workers. At its peak, between 30,000 and 40,000 Cambodian workers have been returning home each day since July 24. The number of Cambodian workers returning home each day has peaked at between 30,000 and 40,000.
The MWG has stated that the real number of returning Cambodian migrant workers could be higher when including unregistered and informal workers. Adisorn Kerdmongkol, coordinator of the MWG, emphasizes the importance of stopping the exodus to prevent Thailand from experiencing a sudden workforce shortage.
Adisorn Kerdmongkol also noted that many workers chose to leave Thailand despite doubts about the Cambodian government's ability to offer sufficient jobs or pay. The departure of Cambodian migrant workers is affecting the agricultural sector in provinces such as Chanthaburi, which heavily depends on seasonal Cambodian labor.
In summary, the return of approximately 780,000 to over 900,000 Cambodian workers represents a significant labor shift that negatively impacts Thailand’s agriculture and manufacturing industries while creating economic strain for returnees in Cambodia.
The border disputes leading to a significant exodus of Cambodian migrant workers into politics and general news, as concerns about labor shortages and their potential economic impact on Thailand's agriculture and manufacturing sectors have been highlighted.
Moreover, the ongoing return of Cambodian migrant workers has also been a matter of crime and justice, as reports of attacks on these workers and deteriorating safety in Thailand have contributed to their decision to return home.
