The impact of international remittances from migrant workers in South Korea on the livelihoods of rural Cambodian households: A case study of Pea Reang District, Prey Veng Province

Abstract

This paper explores patterns in how remittances transferred by Cambodian labour migrants working in South Korea impact the livelihoods of rural households in Cambodia. A mixed-methods research design was used to develop a case study of 69 households in Reap and Roka communes in Pea Reang District, Prey Veng Province. In-depth interviews based on a semi-structured questionnaire were conducted with Cambodian migrant workers in South Korea, the respective commune chiefs, as well as officials from the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MoLVT) in Cambodia. The majority of the Cambodian workers were found to migrate to South Korea by the higher salaries on offer. Other push-pull factors included a lack of local employment opportunities and the experience of poverty. The average annual remittance was found to be 7,000 USD, of which households spent mainly on food, health care, home renovation, education and property, among other expenses. Despite positive short-term impacts, remittances are considered to be an unreliable and insecure source of income if they are not used to invest in longer-term livelihood strategies.