The Asian financial crisis induced a decline in
overall economic growth and a surge in unemployment in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and
Vietnam. The downturn in the Thai economy has had an adverse impact on thousands of
migrant workers who were taking advantage of job opportunities during Thailand’s
economic boom. An estimated 82,000 Cambodians were working in Thailand before the crisis -
about the same number as the number of workers in the Cambodian garment industry, and
about 12 percent of the total labour force in Battambang, Banteay Meanchey and Siem Reap
provinces. Migration of Cambodians to Thailand is thus of major significance to Cambodia.
As part of a larger study of the impact of the Asian crisis on Cambodia’s economy
and society, this report assesses the impact of the downturn in the Thai economy on
Cambodian migrants seeking work in Thailand. It is based on a rapid survey of 14 villages
in Battambang province carried out in December 1998.