Cambodia Launches EU-Backed Initiative to Protect Migrant Workers in Blue Economy

The programme’s third phase aims to build stronger regional and bilateral cooperation within ASEAN to safeguard migrant workers from exploitative labour practices and forced labour.

Cambodia has reaffirmed its strong commitment to enhancing safe migration practices and securing decent work conditions in its fisheries, aquaculture, and seafood processing sectors, as the country ushers in the third phase of the Ship to Shore Rights South-East Asia: Safe Migration for Decent Work in the Blue Economy programme. The initiative, funded by the European Union (EU), is a collaborative effort by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations, and regional partners to address persistent vulnerabilities faced by migrant workers throughout the region's fish and seafood supply chains.

Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Signals Strong Political Will

Key representatives from the Cambodian Government, employers’ associations, trade unions, and civil society organizations gathered in Phnom Penh to inaugurate Phase III of the programme, set to run from 2025 to 2028. The launch event, jointly organized by the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training and the ILO, marked a significant moment of renewed resolve to tackle rights violations, exploitative recruitment, and labour abuses that migrant workers—particularly those in the blue economy—are often subjected to.

Speaking at the event on behalf of Minister Heng Sour, Secretary of State Hou Vudthy emphasized the importance of the initiative:

“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.”

Regional Focus on Rights, Regulation and Fair Recruitment

The programme’s third phase aims to build stronger regional and bilateral cooperation within ASEAN to safeguard migrant workers from exploitative labour practices and forced labour. Key focus areas include:

• Strengthening and harmonizing national policies on migration, labour, and fisheries governance in Cambodia in accordance with international standards.

• Developing fair recruitment corridors, especially targeting common migration routes within South-East Asia.

• Expanding workers’ access to rights-based information and legal services, thereby enhancing their ability to assert and protect their labour and human rights.

• Reinforcing social dialogue among stakeholders to ensure worker-centered responses to labour migration challenges.

EU Reaffirms Support for Regional Labour Protections

In his address, Bryan Fornari, Head of Cooperation for the EU Delegation in Cambodia, highlighted the EU’s broader vision for responsible and inclusive development in the region:

“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.”

The EU’s involvement underscores the bloc’s commitment to fostering fair labour practices and addressing transnational challenges linked to labour migration and exploitation in global supply chains.

 

ILO Highlights Progress and Urgency

Xiaoyan Qian, Director of the ILO Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, lauded the collaborative approach of stakeholders and the alignment of the new phase with real-world needs:

“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.”

The ILO, along with partners like the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), will spearhead the implementation of this ambitious agenda over the next three years.

Addressing Exploitation in the Blue Economy

The Ship to Shore Rights South-East Asia programme has been instrumental in identifying and responding to key risks faced by migrant workers, such as human trafficking, forced labour, and precarious working conditions. Its mission is to promote a sustainable and ethical fish and seafood supply chain by tackling the root causes of abuse and exploitation, including inadequate labour laws, poor enforcement, and limited worker empowerment.

As Cambodia and its partners advance toward Phase III of this transformative initiative, the spotlight is firmly placed on collaborative governance, evidence-based policymaking, and regional solidarity. The stakes are high: safeguarding the rights and dignity of thousands of migrant workers who fuel the region’s blue economy.