A Cambodian worker was arrested for money laundering after a broker convinced him to sell his bank account, raising concerns about migrant workers’ vulnerability to illegal activities.

Over 400 Cambodian workers were arrested by the Thai police on 12 October 2023 in Ayutthaya Province. The workers, most of them employed in construction, reached out to their embassy to request the Thai authorities for their release, after their brokers failed to produce promised legal documentation.

The Cambodian government is planning to open a new consulate in Songkhla, but its decision to prioritize increasing the number of consulates over reducing passport fees has raised concerns among Cambodian workers abroad, who are seeking affordable passport renewal options for easier access to essential services.