Turning crisis into opportunity: A programme of intervention for Cambodian returnees

Cambodia is at a critical juncture. Since July​ 2025, following the border conflict with Thailand, around 910,000 Cambodian workers, close to 10 percent of the national labour force, have returned home. These workers represent the backbone of rural economies and the livelihoods of millions of households. Their sudden repatriation has left communities grappling with the simultaneous loss of jobs, remittances, and​social stability. The most urgent task is to stabilise households, prevent poverty escalation, and rapidly connect returnees to livelihoods. This Policy Brief has been put together by CDRI and ERIA to create a roadmap based on discussions with representatives from 19 ministries and agencies to tie together existing government responses, needs expressed and ideas that could contribute to a positive solution to the current issues relating to the return of Cambodian workers.