Roles, Impacts and Resolution Measures Concerning Transnational Workers in Fishing Community of Thai- Cambodian Borderzone Province : A Case Study of Amphoe Laemsing, Chanthaburi Province.

Abstract

           The objectives of this research were to study roles, impacts, and resolution measures concerning transnational workers in fishing community of Amphoe Laemsing, Chanthaburi Province. The used research method was mixed method between survey research and historical qualitative research. The sample of the survey research was 200 people in Amphoe Laemsing who were involved in the worker situation. The research instrument was a set of questionnaires concerning impacts of transnational workers and the data were analyzed by descriptive statistics. In addition, the oral history method based on the qualitative research was used through the following key Informant : transnational workers, fishing employers, and involving entrepreneurs.

            The findings showed that Cambodian transnational workers in Amphoe Laemsing had the functional role as the capitalist in fishing development.
We found precapitalist fishing system through artisanal fishing both subsistence production and petty commodity product, Transnational workers had no neccessary function for fishing in Amphoe Laemsing. After productive application through modern fishing technology, these workers had neccessary  function for the new productive relation of fishing production capitalist. In case of impact comparison concerning the Cambodian workers, between and after policy implementation of National Council for Peace and Order, we found that economic impacts made no difference, social and health impacts were decreased, as well as governmental and political impacts were rarely decreased. Finally, we found that resolution measures concerning transnational worker problems had two levels. The first level concerning structural measures was fishery co-management between state and community. The second level concerning immediate measures such as all year round registration system of transnational workers, fair fee for the registration and organization of the  grievance center for transnational workers, resided in the community.