Cambodian migrant fishers set a trawl on a fishing vessel in Rayong, Thailand. Pichit Phromkade/ILO
Cambodia has welcomes the launch of phase III of an EU-funded programme that aims to promote safe migration and decent working conditions in the fishing, seafood processing and aquaculture sectors.
The third phase of the “Ship to Shore Rights South-East Asia: Safe Migration for Decent Work in the Blue Economy” programme was discussed by key stakeholders from the government, employers, workers and civil society organisations during a May 8 workshop in Phnom Penh.
They identified the priorities of phase III of the programme, 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-organised by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training,” explained a joint press release.
They outlined an ambitious agenda, with plans to 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. Efforts to organise and expand access to information and services will empower Cambodian migrant workers to assert their labour and human rights,” noted the release.
Hou Vudthy, labour ministry secretary of state, welcomed the third phase of the programme.
“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.
“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 UN and other development partners,” added Bryan Fornari, head of cooperation for the EU delegation in Cambodia.
Xiaoyan Qian, director of the ILO Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and Laos, also shared his pleasure at the outcomes of the workshop.
“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 realise 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,” she said.
According to the release, the programme is a regional initiative of the EU and the 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.
“It 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,” it added.
