Remittance and Migrant Workers in Thailand: A Case Study of Parents in Sangke District of Battambang Province, Cambodia

Abstract

Labour migration is a world phenomenon, and it has also become vital to Cambodian people in terms of remittances. This article examines the perception of parents whose children have migrated to Thailand. The paper examines the contribution of remittances on parents’ socio-economic improvement, with special attention to (a) reasons for migration to Thailand, (b) sectors of employment of migrant workers, and (c) remittances from Thailand and their usage in Cambodia. The study reveals that remittances from labour migration to Thailand are significant for living conditions of parents in Cambodia. The majority of workers migrated to Thailand due to lack of local job opportunities (93.5%), followed by those migrating in search of a decent income or salary (85.5%). There were also other reasons for migration, including household poverty (62.3%). In Thailand, migrant workers are employed in construction (35.5%), food/beverages (30.7%), services (18.0%), and industry (13.8%). They are hired in non-skilled positions, which makes them more vulnerable to exploitation and trafficking. The monthly average remittance was as small as 95.47 US dollars, and it is mostly used to contribute to parents’ living condition. In particular, there is a close relationship between remittances and holding an ID Poor status. It is clear parents with ID Poor status are highly dependent upon remittances. Parents of migrant workers used remittances for food consumption (35.98 US dollars), children’s education (22.05 US dollars), and healthcare (8.45 US dollars). This paper contributes to filling gaps in the literature regarding labor migration, remittances, and the impact on the parents of migrant workers in Cambodia.