(Phnom Penh): Cambodian Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training expresses its deepest sorrow and firmly condemns the inhumane acts committed by Thai soldiers in black uniform against a group of 13 Cambodian migrant workers.
These acts included severe physical violence—such as beating, kicking, striking with rifle butts, intimidation, extortion—and an abhorrent case of sexual violence perpetrated by 7 Thai soldiers in black uniform (multiple-perpetrator rape) against one female Cambodian migrant worker. The incident occurred on 15 November 2025 in Chanthaburi Province, Thailand, adjacent to Kamrieng District of Battambang Province, Cambodia, at a time when the Cambodian migrant workers were attempting to return home and when the Thai side had unilaterally closed the Cambodia–Thailand land border crossing.
These inhumane acts constitute grave violations of human rights, migrant workers’ rights, and women’s rights as enshrined in the instruments of the United Nations (UN), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
"The Ministry has been working closely with relevant ministries, institutions, and competent authorities to undertake legal measures aimed at securing justice, while also providing physical and psychological care to the victims through the support services of the Migrant Resource Centres (MRC)," according to the statement seen by Fresh News dated 17 November 2025.
"Furthermore, the Ministry urgently calls upon the international community—particularly the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), UN Women, and other relevant international organisations—to give special attention to monitoring and urging the Royal Government and competent authorities of Thailand to conduct an immediate, transparent, and thorough investigation of this case, with the aim of ensuring justice for the victims, who are Cambodian migrant workers, as well as safeguarding all migrant workers currently working and residing in Thailand from any form of violence.
The Ministry will continue to closely monitor developments related to this case and other related incident in order to ensure the protection and promotion of the rights and dignity of Cambodian migrant workers, in accordance with international legal instruments. On this occasion, the Ministry renews its advice and strong reminder to Cambodian migrant workers currently working and residing in Thailand to exercise heightened caution with regard to their personal safety in the face of potential violence and/or discrimination, and are encouraged to contact Cambodia’s competent authorities and partnered international organisations when seeking to return home safely."
For further information on migrant worker protection, return procedures, and employment opportunities in Cambodia, Cambodian migrant workers may contact:
Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Bangkok: Tel. 02 957 5851 / 092 805 0561 and Royal Consulate-General in Sa Kaeo: Tel. 080 393 6878 / 085 012 3668
Labour Attaché in Bangkok: Tel. 094 092 5905 / 094 416 5518 / 083 545 7788 / 092 299 0133 and Labour Attaché in Sa Kaeo: Tel. 062 089 8918 / 080 810 5505
ILO Country Office: Tel. 02 288 1234
IOM Country Office: Tel. 02 343 9300 / 012 932 900
Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) in Bangkok: Tel. 02 513 9242 / 02 513 8959; in Chiang Mai: Tel. 053 811 202 / 053 271 551 and in Mae Sot: Tel. 055 535 994 / 055 536 015
=FRESH NEWS
