BANGKOK, August 4th, 2025 — Thailand is grappling with an imminent labour crisis as a mass exodus of Cambodian migrant workers, driven by escalating tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border, threatens to disrupt key industries, a leading economist warned today.
Anusorn Tamajai, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Director of the Digital Economy, Investment and International Trade Research Centre (DEIIT) at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, explained the massive economic impact of the ongoing conflict. Cambodian migrant workers, who form a critical part of Thailand's workforce, are leaving in droves, creating challenges for sectors such as agriculture, construction, food processing, and services.
Official figures indicate that approximately 500,000 Cambodian workers are legally employed in Thailand, but when undocumented workers are included, the total is estimated to be between 1 million and 1.2 million. These workers are vital to Thai businesses and contribute substantially to Cambodia's economy, remitting an estimated 40 billion to 65 billion baht annually—equivalent to over 6.5% of Cambodia's GDP.
The crisis intensified in late July 2025, when border tensions triggered a rapid repatriation of workers. Over a five-day period, around 400,000 Cambodian workers returned to their home country, with 150,000 departing on the first day alone. The mass exit was fueled by widespread rumours of insecurity in Thailand, amplifying fears among the migrant community.
Anusorn urged Thai authorities to address these rumours decisively and promote positive relations between Thai communities and Cambodian workers to stem the outflow. "The departure of this workforce could severely disrupt production and operations across multiple industries," he cautioned, calling for swift action to restore confidence and stabilize the labour market.
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