Khmer Labour Migration in Tinh Bien Town, An Giang Province Nowadays

Abstract

Over the past two decades, alongside traditional livelihood activities, labour migration has emerged as a new strategy for the Khmer people in the Southwestern provinces of Vietnam. In Tinh Bien town, An Giang province, the trend of working far from home, particularly migrating to cities and inland industrial zones searching for employment, has gained popularity within the Khmer community. In certain hamlets and clusters in Tinh Bien town, the rate of labour migration is relatively high, accounting for approximately 30% of the Khmer population. Drawing on the findings of ethnographic fieldwork and a questionnaire survey conducted in three hamlets and clusters in Van Giao commune and An Phu ward of Tinh Bien town in December 2022 and June 2023, this article aims to elucidate the Khmer migration situation and provide an explanation for the underlying reasons.