Sri Lankans to replace fleeing workers

The governmentis drawing up a plan to replace Cambodian workers who have returned to their country due to the ongoing border tensions with workers from Sri Lanka, according to the Labour Ministry yesterday.

- POST REPORTERS

While the government is still working out the exact number of Cambodian workers who have left the country since the border conflict erupted, Labour Minister Pongkawin Jungrungreangkit estimated about 20,000 registered workers have gone back across the border — far below the 200,000 claimed by Phnom Penh.

To minimise disruptions to ongoing projects, the Labour Ministry is considering bringing in workers from Sri Lanka. The process, however, is still in its initial stages and contingent on the signing of an MoU, which is still currently being drafted, Mr Pongkawin noted.

The exact number of workers that would be brought in will depend on market demand, the minister added.