MIGRATING TOWARDS A BETTER FUTURE A QUALITATIVE STUDY ON MIGRATION CHOICES AND OUTCOMES IN CAMBODIA

Abstract: By answering the questions (1) What are the underlying reasons for choosing to migrate irregularly rather than regularly, and what are the implications of this choice? and (2) How and under what structural conditions are Cambodian migrants and their households using remittances? this study seeks to understand labour migration and development interactions in Cambodia, by examining why migration and remittances bring about positive social transformations in some Khmer households and much less so, or even negative transformations, in others, in order to comprehend how their impacts can be better realised through policy in Cambodia. The research employed a case-study, based on 36 semi-structured interviews with migrant workers and their families, and 3 interviews with experts on migration. Findings display irregular and regular migrants going through profoundly different experiences, which seem to originate from structural obstacles and inequalities related to the absence of migration fee standardisation, an inefficient and highly corrupted governance framework, low levels of education and limited infrastructure. Remittances outcomes also follow the red thread of legal status and structural constraints deriving thereof: regular migrants households use remittances for more, diverse and beneficial purposes, whereas irregular migrants’ are limited in their choices to everyday consumption, health-related expenses and paying off debts.