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Panel Discussion “Ants Between Elephants: Cambodian Migrant Workers in Thailand”
21 October, 2025 @ 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Event Description
Thailand is home to one of Southeast Asia’s largest populations of cross-border migrant workers, the majority originating from Myanmar and to a lesser extend Cambodia, totaling almost 5 million (IOM in December 2024). Following the recent dispute at the border between Thailand and Cambodia in early 2025, Cambodian and Burmese migrant workers in Thailand face increasing vulnerability amid a growing climate of prejudice and misinformation. Beyond often poor living and working conditions, migrants are now confronted with widespread rise of xenophobia and nationalist rhetoric. These discriminatory attitudes, though not a new phenomenon, is now fueled by increasing social media disinformation and negative public discourse which limit migrants’ access to essential services, increase their risk of exploitation, and erode their sense of safety and belonging.
To address these intertwining challenges, SEA Junction is launching an initiative to promote alternative narratives on migrant workers in Thailand, countering stereotypes and one-dimensional portrayals while fostering open dialogue and public support for the integration of migrants into Thai society. The first event in this series is the panel titled “Ants Between Elephants: Cambodian Migrant Workers in Thailand” which will highlight the voices of different stakeholders from employers to migrant workers in an open dialogue, along with a Q&A session from participants.
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
The event will take place on 21st October 2025 from 5.30 pm – 7.00 pm at SEA Junction, 4th Fl., Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC). The event will be held in English and Thai with interpretation.
Along with the panel, SEA Junction is also launching 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.
For more information, please email: info@seajunction.org or phone/wa: +66970024140
NB: The event is free, donations are welcome to support SEA Junction activities.
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.
