Cambodia Labour Ministry Rejects Human Rights Watch Report on Migrant Workers

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Nov.26,2025) — Cambodia’s Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training has sharply rejected a report by Human Rights Watch, calling the organization’s findings “false, unprofessional and baseless.”

In a statement Tuesday, the ministry said the report, released Nov. 25, had “distorted” government efforts to support Cambodian migrant workers returning from abroad and created “misunderstanding with malicious intent.”

Officials said that since June 8, returning workers have received assistance including access to reception centers, free transport to their home provinces, help carrying belongings, drinking water and snacks, document facilitation, and coordination with microfinance institutions to delay loan repayments.

The ministry also highlighted employment initiatives such as the “Khmer Helping Khmer to Find Jobs” campaign, run via hotline and Telegram, and job forums held in communes with high numbers of returnees.

Officials said 577 sessions had been organized, alongside vocational training programs, resulting in more than 280,000 workers securing jobs in the formal sector. About 80,000 vacancies remain available.

Spokesperson Sun Mesa dismissed HRW’s findings Wednesday as “unscientific” and “unacceptable,” arguing the report relied on interviews with just 56 people while claiming to represent the experiences of more than 90,000 migrant workers.

He described the assessment as “purely political” and urged HRW to provide contact information for the interviewees so the ministry could offer employment assistance.