Cambodia Country Study Working Paper Series No. 44 ... - CDRI

�������������������������������������������������������
Village Construction Agriculture Fishing Housework Factory Others Total
���������� ���� 16 4 0 1 6 5 32
Female 1 5 0 2 19 1 28
Both 17 9 0 3 25 6 60
Krasang ���� 4 51 0 2 2 3 62
Female 0 34 0 4 0 2 40
Both 4 85 0 6 2 5 102
Kork Thnong ���� 24 1 0 1 1 3 30
Female 21 1 0 11 1 3 37
Both 45 2 0 12 2 6 67
Rumduol ���� 26 11 0 0 6 7 50
Female 10 3 0 5 2 3 23
Both 36 14 0 5 8 10 73
Siem Peay ���� 11 71 4 0 0 0 86
Female 1 37 2 0 0 0 40
Both 12 108 6 0 0 0 126
Khnay ���� 18 0 58 0 0 0 76
Female 1 0 3 2 2 1 9
Both 19 0 61 2 2 1 85
All villages ���� 99 138 62 4 15 18 336
Female 34 80 5 24 24 10 177
Both 133 218 67 28 39 28 513
Source: CDRI survey in September and October 2007
������������������������������������������
Chem Chan, 41, married with four children, lives in Krasang and is a seasonal migrant
�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
He chose to work in Thailand because his household possesses no agricultural land and
��������������������������������������������������������
Chan travelled with 15 other villagers to the border pass point and paid 70,000 riels for
an initial seven-day pass. The pass has to be renewed weekly by paying 2000 riels. The
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
pass, which cost him 7000 riels one way and a whole day of work lost.
Chan made 10,000 riels a day and spent an average 2500 riels for food. He saved
approximately 150,000 riels per month. He never sent money home during his stay, but
brought all the savings home when he returned. With these savings, Chan could give
���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
These are now the sources of income that sustain his household. Chan plans to rent more
rice land so that his household will be free from food shortages. Working far from home
caused emotional strains. He had to leave his wife alone to take care of the children.
Visiting his family cost a lot of money that he did not want to waste, so he restrained his
desire to visit his family unless it was necessary.
�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
which is way too low to maintain a decent living. Chan suggested that the government
should consider lowering the cost of the initial border pass from 70,000 to 30,000 riels.
Source: interview, September 2007
29 CDRI