Decent work for Cambodian migrants in the fish and seafood supply chain to be strengthened by European Union-funded initiative

PHNOM PENH (ILO News) - Cambodia has affirmed its strong commitment to promoting safe migration and decent work in the fishing, seafood processing and aquaculture sectors, with the launch of a new phase of the European Union-funded Ship to Shore Rights South-East Asia: Safe Migration for Decent Work in the Blue Economy.

Key stakeholders from the Government, employers, workers and civil society organizations met in Phnom Penh on 8 May to discuss priorities for Phase III of the programme in Cambodia, which will run from 2025-2028. The participants expressed their resolve to work together to protect the rights of migrant workers throughout the fish and seafood supply chain, from primary production to post-harvest processing. The meeting was co-organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training.

During the workshop, an ambitious agenda was outlined for Ship to Shore Rights South-East Asia. The programme will strengthen regional and bilateral cooperation within ASEAN to ensure safe migration and decent work for Cambodian migrants. National policies and legislation on migration, labour and fisheries governance in Cambodia will be reinforced, in line with international standards. Fair recruitment corridors will be established to help ensure that Cambodian migrants do not bear the costs of finding work abroad. Efforts to organize and expand access to information and services will empower Cambodian migrant workers to assert their labour and human rights.

Speaking on behalf of Heng Sour, Minister of Labour and Vocational Training, Hou Vudthy, Secretary of State, welcomed the continuation of the programme. "Tens of thousands of Cambodian migrant workers employed in the fishing and seafood processing sectors require better access to safe migration pathways and stronger protection of their labour rights during their employment abroad. This programme provides an excellent opportunity for Cambodia to develop stronger national, bilateral and regional policies to support decent work for migrant workers in the fish and seafood supply chain," he said.

In his opening remarks, Bryan Fornari, Head of Cooperation for the European Union (EU) Delegation in Cambodia, said, "The blue economy is an important source of employment in South-East Asia. Cambodian migrant workers have increasingly filled a substantial share of these jobs. However, we need to do more to ensure that they can migrate safely and obtain decent work. This requires a coordinated regional approach, which the EU promotes in partnership with the Cambodian Government, the United Nations and other development partners."

In response to the meeting outcomes, Xiaoyan Qian, Director of the ILO Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and the Lao People's Democratic Republic, said, "The ILO welcomes the commitments made by key stakeholders to ensure that Cambodian migrant workers in the fishing and seafood supply chain are able to realize their fundamental labour rights. We are very pleased to reach agreement on a strong work plan of activities that directly responds to the key protection needs of these vulnerable workers."

Ship to Shore Rights in South-East Asia: Safe migration for decent work in the blue economy is a regional initiative of the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN). It is implemented by the ILO in collaboration with IOM and FAO, with the overall objective to promote safe migration and decent work for a sustainable fish and seafood supply chain in South-East Asia. The programme addresses the specific vulnerabilities experienced by migrant workers in these sectors, as well as the risks present during the labour migration process, which can lead to decent work deficits, labour rights abuses and forced labour.

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Benjamin Harkins
Technical Specialist
Ship to Shore Rights South-East Asia Programme
ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Email: harkins@ilo.org

Mr. Sambo Sok
National Project Coordinator
Ship to Shore Rights South-East Asia Programme
ILO Cambodia
Email: sok@ilo.org