Cambodian Unions Blast HRW Report as Flawed, Politically Driven

PHNOM PENH (Nov. 27, 2025) — Cambodia’s major trade unions have denounced a recent Human Rights Watch (HRW) report on returning migrant workers, calling it inaccurate, unprofessional, and politically motivated.

The HRW study — based on interviews with just 56 former migrant workers — alleges widespread hunger and unemployment among returnees. Union leaders argue the sample is far too small to represent the nearly one million Cambodians who have come back from Thailand.

Som Soeun, president of the National Trade Union Confederation, said the report disregards government efforts led by the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training to support returnees from border arrival to job placement. He accused HRW of lacking transparency and credible research standards.

Pav Sina, president of the Collective Union of Movement of Workers, echoed the criticism, noting that most returnees received care and assistance from authorities. He said isolated challenges cannot justify sweeping claims drawn from a handful of interviews.

Their remarks reinforce the Ministry of Labour’s earlier rejection of the report, which officials said lacked scientific basis and appeared politically motivated.