Koh Kong zone 'will reduce illegal migrants'

However, a Thai immigration officer did not agree, saying poor, unskilled Cambodians would still come into Thailand as the minimum daily wage here is a lot higher than payment levels in the Koh Kong SEZ. 

Thitidej Tongpatara, vice president of KKSEZ, said the zone had three key goals: to boost the local economy, become a centre of clean industry and to create jobs for local people.

“Five firms from Thailand, Japan and South Korea have set up factories here so far. Some 6,400 Cambodian workers have already been given jobs at KKSEZ, and most of them are from Koh Kong province, though some have travelled from Phnom Penh. We have created a lot of jobs here,” he said. 

Thitidej revealed that only 17 per cent of the zone had been occupied and that 2,100 rai of land was still vacant, so more than 20,000 jobs could be created in the future.

“KKSEZ offers well-paid jobs, along with accommodation for workers from other provinces. Business also offer good welfare to their workers, such as cheap food, medical service and transport,” he said. 

However, Lieutenant Thongchai Meechaiyen, an officer with Chanthaburi Marine Task Force, whose duty is to suppress the passage of illegal workers from Cambodia, said he did not believe the economic zone would help tackle the problem of illegal migrants. 

“Workers from Cambodia are mostly unskilled. They come to Thailand to do jobs that Thais don’t want to do,” he said. 

Most illegal workers cross the border in Poi Pet rather than the mountain into Chanthaburi and Trat province, he said, pointing out that this meant not many illegal workers come from Koh Kong. 

Thitidej, however, said that Koh Kong SEZ offers Cambodians jobs closer to home, so they should have no reason to enter Thailand illegally.

“People prefer to work closer to home and live near their families. I think the KKSEZ can relieve the problem of illegal foreign workers,” he assured.

Koh Kong SEZ is one of the six special economic zones in Cambodia. Based just 2 kilometres from Trat province, it is seen as a perfect location to transport raw materials and finished goods to and from Thailand easily, and should boost the trans-border economy. 

Meanwhile, Sarin, an employee of Yazaki Cambodia Products Company in Koh Kong SEZ, said that though he was glad to have a job in his hometown, the wages were still lower than in Thailand. “I earn Bt7,000 a month here, and can barely support my family. In comparison, I can make at least Bt9,000 in Thailand, so I can understand why many of my friends still go there,” he said. “I used to work illegally in Thailand, but was afraid of being arrested all the time. I’m happier here, even though I earn less.”