Event Description

On 6 March 2026, from 5.30–7.00 pm at SEA Junction, Room 407–8, 4th Floor of the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC), the panel discussion “Ants Between Elephants: Cambodian Migrant Workers in Thailand” brought together migrant workers, employers, and other stakeholders for an open dialogue on the situation of Cambodian migrant workers in Thailand. The discussion examined the growing vulnerability of migrant workers in the context of recent regional tensions and the spread of prejudice, misinformation, and nationalist rhetoric. Speakers reflected on how these dynamics affect migrants’ working and living conditions, access to services, and overall sense of safety and belonging. The event also marked the first activity in SEA Junction’s new initiative aimed at promoting alternative narratives on migrant workers and encouraging more informed and constructive public dialogue on migration in Thai society.

Speakers

  • Tola Mouen, Labor Rights Activist, CENTRAL
  • Nilubon Pongpayom, Group of Entrepreneurs with Foreign Workers (GEFW)
  • Saing Ry, Cambodian Migrant Representative
  • Thapanee Eadsrichai, Founder of The Reporter

Moderator

  • Rosalia Sciortino, Director and Founder of SEA Junction and Lecturer at the Institute of Population Studies (IPSR), Mahidol University

Along with the panel, SEA Junction is launched an online campaign with Solidarity Collective TH, a local, youth collective advocating on issues of social justice, human rights, peace and democracy in Southeast Asia. With this initiative, SEA Junction aims to transform narratives from fear and exclusion to empathy and appreciation, laying the foundation for long-term social cohesion and regional solidarity.

Speaker Profile

Tola Moeun is the Executive Director of the Center for the Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL), a Cambodian organization that advocates for labor rights. He is a well-known human rights defender who has faced politically motivated charges but has been a prominent voice for workers’ rights in Cambodia and has testified before international human rights commissions.

Nilubol Pongpayom is a representative of Nai Chang Si Khao or the White Employers (นายจ้างสีขาว), an informal coalition of employers who employs migrant workers across different sectors who have united to learn more about the law and work to advocate for migrant workers protection and legal standings.

Saing Ry is a Cambodian migrant worker who has been actively advocating for migrant voices and rights.

Thapanee Eadsrichai is a journalist and the founder of The Reporters, an independence news agency focusing on reporting underreported issues. As a journalist, she has covered stories ranging from political unrest to the plight of refugees and human rights violations. She is recognized for her integrity and commitment to press freedom.

Organizer

SEA Junction, established under the Thai non-profit organization Foundation for Southeast Asia Studies (ForSEA), aims to foster understanding and appreciation of Southeast Asia in all its socio-cultural dimensions- from arts and lifestyles to economy and development. Conveniently located at Room 407-8 of the Bangkok Arts and Culture Center or BACC (across MBK, BTS National Stadium), SEA Junction facilitates public access to knowledge resources and exchanges among students, practitioners and Southeast Asia lovers. For more information see www.seajunction.org, join the Facebook group:  http://www.facebook.com/groups/1693058870976440/ and follow us on twitter and Instagram @seajunction.