In November 2025, the Mekong Migration Network (MMN) convened four Migrant Exchange Forums in Cambodia and Vietnam, bringing together migrant returnees and prospective migrant workers to Japan. Supported by the Toyota Foundation-funded project “Migrant Returnees’ Exchange: Building a Forum for Sharing Experiences in Southeast Asian Countries of Origin,” the forums created spaces for returnees to share their lived experiences and contribute insights to discussions on labour migration policy. Against the backdrop of Japan’s ongoing immigration policy reforms, the forums aimed to amplify migrant workers’ voices, help prospective migrants make informed decisions, and identify key challenges and areas for improvement in Japan’s labour migration system.

Click here to read the Executive Summary.