Thailand Suspends Extension for Nearly 100,000 Cambodian Workers

(THAILAND) The Thai government has suspended the extension of work permits for nearly 100,000 Cambodian workers whose permits expired in February 2025, a decision announced by Traisulee Traisoranakul, Secretary‑General to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

Officials said many of those workers could not be properly identified or located, and that extending their status without verification would raise national security concerns. The pause halts a previously proposed plan to let workers from neighboring countries stay on temporarily, and it leaves thousands in uncertainty while the Cabinet reconsiders the policy.

Background and Cabinet resolution

The decision follows a Cabinet resolution on August 19, 2025, which proposed a one-year grace period for certain Cambodian, Laotian, Myanmar, and Vietnamese workers with expired work permits. That plan required the Interior Minister’s signature to take effect, but the signature has been withheld pending further review.

The Prime Minister’s Office said the government will not proceed until agencies confirm who is eligible and can be tracked, stressing that any extension must meet legal and security standards.

Government actions and review process

Prime Minister Anutin has instructed the Interior and Labour ministries to:

1. Revisit the original proposal.
2. Examine the risks and verification steps.
3. Deliver a revised version for Cabinet consideration.

Traisulee said the government is concerned that an automatic extension without reliable identification could increase illegal entry and transnational crime. Authorities want to avoid creating incentives for people to enter or stay outside the system, while also seeking ways to support regular migration through lawful channels.

“Extending status without a firm picture of who is in the country and where they work could undermine border controls,” officials warned.

The ministries reviewing the plan are expected to consider:

• New verification tools and identity checks
• Tighter reporting timelines for employers and provinces
• Closer coordination with provincial authorities

The government has not set a deadline for submitting the revised proposal, but has made clear that no extensions will be issued until the review is complete.

Security context and bilateral relations

The move comes at a sensitive time in Thai‑Cambodian relations. Officials have cited rising tensions, including a recent landmine incident that injured Thai soldiers, and the suspension of Thai‑Cambodian peace agreements and related cooperative activities.

While the government did not attribute the decision solely to these events, the announcement reflected a broader focus on border management, law enforcement, and screening measures tied to national security. That stance will shape how quickly and under what conditions any revised policy might be approved.

Impact on workers and employers

For affected Cambodian workers, the pause is immediate and personal.

• Many had seen the August Cabinet resolution as a path to keep their jobs while employers handled renewed documentation.
• With the extension on hold, workers with lapsed permits sit in limbo, unsure whether they can remain on worksites or whether enforcement will follow.
• Employers, especially in sectors that rely on migrant labour, face tough staffing choices while waiting for clear guidance.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, uncertainty around status changes can ripple through supply chains, with small contractors often the first to feel labour gaps.

Officials argue that strong screening is necessary to avoid future problems. They pointed to cases where individuals carried incomplete records or could not be located after their permits expired. In their view, extending status without a firm picture of who is in the country and where they work could undermine border controls.

Policy aims, concerns, and competing views

The Cabinet’s August plan was designed as a one‑year bridge, giving workers with expired permits time to regularize while easing pressure on employers. By freezing that plan, the government signals that risk screening outranks speed.

• Labour advocates worry a hard stop could push people into irregular work, which can lead to lower pay and less protection.
• Officials counter that a blanket extension without checks would be worse, and say the goal is a tighter process that still allows eligible workers to return to legal jobs once identity and eligibility are confirmed.

Rules, guidance, and where to find official information

Thailand’s Labour Ministry remains the main source for rules on foreign employment, including registration steps and employer responsibilities. While the suspended extension is not in force, the ministry’s general guidance on lawful work and employer obligations continues to apply.

For official information on migrant employment policy and requirements for foreign workers, the Ministry of Labour provides updates on its website at the Ministry of Labour (Thailand).

Authorities emphasized that any revised Cabinet resolution, if approved, would be announced publicly with clear instructions for workers and employers.

Regional implications and next steps

The pause has regional implications because the original Cabinet measure covered not only Cambodian workers but also those from Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam. However, the government spotlighted the group of nearly 100,000 Cambodian workers with February expirations as the most pressing concern since they were next in line for extension under the draft plan.

The Interior Ministry’s sign‑off remains the critical step. Without it, the temporary arrangement cannot take effect. Inside government, the review is expected to focus on how identity checks can be completed for workers who:

• Lack current addresses
• Have employers that have changed
• Cannot be located or properly identified

Practical consequences and human toll

In practical terms, this leaves workplaces navigating a grey zone:

• Employers who had planned to rely on the now‑paused extension face renewed compliance risks and may need to pause hires or reassign tasks.
• Workers who stopped job searches expecting an extension now risk remaining out of status.
• Local officials have urged patience, promising clarity once the Cabinet receives and votes on the revised plan.

With no date set for a vote, the human toll of waiting is growing—especially for families who depend on steady wages from cross‑border work.

Outlook

Thailand has long depended on migrant labour from neighbouring countries to fill roles in construction, agriculture, fisheries, and services. The government’s statement signals it still wants orderly, lawful migration, but with tighter control.

In the coming weeks, attention will focus on:

• Whether the revised proposal lays out concrete steps to identify and register eligible workers quickly
• How employers will report and track their staff
• Whether security concerns can be addressed without shutting the door to legal employment

For now, the extension of work permits is on hold, the review is ongoing, and thousands of Cambodian workers are left waiting for the next Cabinet decision.