First, let’s make things clear. Cambodia has been cracking down on telecom fraud during this period, and in Sihanoukville, the wave of “high-paying” jobs that had been driven by compounds and casinos in the past has been disappearing quickly. Since the intensified crackdown in July, casinos have closed, and hotels, restaurants, and entertainment have all been affected along with them. Pressure from unemployment has also risen.
Many people online have been very blunt about it. Some lament that they used to make $1,000 a month, but now even jobs paying $300 are hard to find. Others say that right now, let alone being picky about work, it is hard even to find jobs with private employers, and having any work at all is already not bad. Some also mention that they used to be able to earn $250 to $300 a day, but now even that level cannot be maintained.
There have been results on the anti-fraud front. The materials mention that by the end of August, 663 telecom fraud dens had been dismantled and more than 22,000 foreign nationals had been repatriated. But on the other side, the ups and downs of people’s livelihoods are also very direct: industries such as food service, lodging, and transportation are all shrinking. For many people here, the first thing they feel is not some grand principle, but that their rice bowl has gotten smaller, orders are fewer, and life has to be lived more frugally.
Some suggest that those with some financial means can go to Phnom Penh or other provinces to look for opportunities again. Others remain relatively steady in their mindset, saying that the world has always been unpredictable, and that the first thing is to learn how to survive in hardship and slowly wait for a turning point. What people have been talking about most on the streets lately is no longer any road to getting rich, but work, rent, and how to get through this month.
For many people, the “Sihanoukville dream” is indeed fading. The bustle that was once propped up by compounds and casinos now looks unlikely to return. But this matter is also right there in front of everyone: clearing out telecom fraud dens is a hard move, but how the city finds a new way to make a living next is the longer-term question.
