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NEWSVictim of Labour Exploitation: I'll never go back to work in Thailand CETHCam Plans to Pilot CCM in Costal Provinces Students from the United States Visit COSECAM Cambodians Celebrate International Children's Day and World Day Against Child Labor International Conference: Cambodians Step Up Fight Against Human Trafficking GSO Girls Elect Their First Leader COSECAM Strategic Workshop and CETHCam Annual Workshop Child Development Course Vital for Staff Working with Children 141 Trafficked and Vulnerable Persons Helped in 2009: EDVP Project Vocational Training Makes Life Better After Reintegration More Awareness about Trafficking Is Needed: Report Dance Helps Heal Children's Sufferings COSECAM Leaders Attend International Conference in Australia Cambodians Celebrate Anti-Human Trafficking Day Victim Protection System on Its Way towards A National Standardization COSECAM Offers Empowerment to Victims through the Girls Speak Out Project A Victim of Trafficking and Disability Champions Against Adversity Strategic Planning Training Magnetizes Members' Staff Girls Speak Out Sunday Workshop Girls Speak Out Sunday Workshop COSECAM Organized Orientation Workshop for Potential Applicants (Service Providers) COSECAM Organized Girls Speak Out Workshop COSECAM Launched Its New Project COSECAM Joined the Rural Trade Fair in Prey Veng Provincial Town COSECAM conducted Organizational Management Training Program COSECAM organized "Girls Speak Out" workshop COSECAM joined the Rural Trade Fair in Kampong Cham Provincial Town COSECAM conducted a "Girls Speak Out" wrokshop on 28th November 2007 |
A Former Migrant Worker: Working in Thailand A Waste of Time
Kong Mao, aged 34, and his wife were former migrant workers in Thailand. He worked on fishing boats while his wife worked in fishing-related activities offshore. Kong Mao said he went to Thailand in 1997 to work on fish trawlers in Pattani province. He said he could earn very little from his work since he needed to cover many expenses, including room rental fee. “The condition of working on fishing trawler was harsh. We had little time to sleep. Although I wasn't maltreated, I had to work long hours. Sometimes, I had to work at night until early morning and in the morning, I had to sew up the nets until 10:00am or 2:00pm,” said Kong Mao. “Over ten years working in Thailand, I only sent around 10,000 Thai baht back home. I decided to come back because I found out that I would earn no more and would have nothing left from working there,” he continued.
“My income at the time was just barely enough to go by, just lived from hands to mouth,” said Kong Mao. They returned home in November and lived with his brother in the village since he didn't have any land. In April, Kong Mao started his coffee business with the support from the Economic Empowerment to Vulnerable and Trafficked Persons (EEVP) project of COSECAM. “I find that my business is growing. Before, I sold only coffee but now I have many things available for sale. Although I don't have much money left, but I have many things for sale. From the profit from selling coffee, I buy bottled water, wine and many things more for sale. Each time I go to the market, I need at least 200,000 riel in order to buy some goods,” said Kong Mao. However, he said that now people in his village were trying to spend less after a long drought in the area.
“I don't have any land for farming. So we live on the profit from this business. My living has become better.” Kong Mao also revealed that he had a plan to build a house just behind his older brother's. |
Kong Mao is selling sweets and cracks to children while his wife is making coffee for awaiting costumers at his small thatched shop in Khchouk village, Por Peus commune, Svay Anthor district, Prey Veng province. 
Kong Mao met his wife, of Vietnamese origin, while they both were working in Thailand. They got married in Thailand in 2006. Kong Mao could earn around 1,000 baht per month, moth of which he had to spend on food, accommodation and the police. 
“Now I sell well only Saturday and Sunday because during the weekend people come from Phnom Penh to visit their homeland,” said Kong Mao. Phone: (855) 23 224 801 / 993 675 | E-mail: office@cosecam.org | Website: www.cosecam.org