Country Report CCTU-Cambodia

1-Introduction At this moment, Cambodia is sending workers to only 3 countries: Korea, Malaysia and Thailand; and has Received from different countries in the globe, especially high skilled migrant workers. ILO-IPEC/TICW has played very important roles in supporting social partners to raise awareness of prevention and exploitation.

2-Lobbying for Legalization of Undocumented migrant workers Reports of undocumented migrant workers in Thailand were reported to government for action; Trade Unions discussed this issue with Minister of Labor for action; Trade union persuaded government to negotiate with Thai government to legalize all illegal migrant workers;

Legalization (Cont) Government started to send its official to Thailand; Finally both governments have met and agreed on common goal to register all illegal Cambodian migrant workers by the fees between 3,000-4,000 Baht which is about $100. Now all undocumented workers became documented.

3-Lobbying for simplifying Costs One migrant worker to Korea has to pay between $4,000-$6,000 to recruiting agency; Workers complained to trade unions, Trade unions conducted campaign on radio, workshop, etc. to government to control the migrant workers properly. Trade unions brought these issue up to the government to be discussed. government learnt the problems and discussed these issues with Korean Government

Simplifying Costs (Cont) Finally, Cambodian government control the recruiting process with Korean government in order to: - reduce the high costs charged to migrant workers; now each worker pay about $1,000-$1,500 for going and coming back -Bring fair and just recruitment -Reduce bribes and bring up good quality of migrant workers.

4-Stop Confiscating Passports Workers working in Malaysia complained to trade unions, CUF-CCTU about their Passport confiscated by their bosses. Trade union talked with government on the issues for action, then CUF-CCTU talked with respected recruiting agency for improvement; Recruiting agency accepted the proposal not to confiscate Passport for workers,

Cont Then MOU was signed between recruiting agency and CUF-CCTU. ILO-IPEC/TICW supported the awareness raising activities on labor migration and their rights “Travel Smart-Work smart” to CUF-CCTU. Pre-departure training to migrant workers about their rights in the receiving countries.

Cont Follow up activities. Monitoring on the field. Finally, migrant workers in all forms have rights to carry their on travel documents with their own responsibility.

Cont END AND THANKS ! I wish you all to have a pleasant stay in Jakarta, Indonesia. Presented by: Brother Chuon Mom Thol and Uon Kimsuo, CUF-CCTU