Thailand Grants Work Permits to Myanmar Refugees in Border Camps, Upholding Dignity

(THAILAND) The Thai Cabinet has approved a new policy to grant legal work permits to Myanmar refugees living in nine border camps, a move officials say will help meet labor needs while giving long-time camp residents a path to lawful employment for the first time.

The decision, finalized on August 26, 2025, applies to over 40,000 working-age refugees in the initial phase and is expected to roll out once a royal announcement sets out the operating rules. UNHCR and rights groups praised the policy, while Thai agencies began early health checks in camps as the government readies systems to manage applications and workplace oversight.

Under the plan, long-term Myanmar refugees—primarily Karen, Karenni, and other ethnic minorities—will be able to apply for permission to leave the controlled camp area and then seek a work permit under a new “special pass” track. This is not the standard migrant worker registration used for cross-border hires, because most refugees lack Myanmar-issued documents. The Labor Ministry will manage the pass system, with permits valid for up to one year and renewal details to follow.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the Cabinet move balances Thailand’s tight labor market with long-standing security rules on movement near the border. UNHCR called the policy a “turning point,” saying it can be a model for rights-based refugee policy in Southeast Asia. Tammi Sharpe, UNHCR’s Thailand representative, said the change can help families move from aid to income while supplying legal labor in sectors that have struggled since pandemic-era disruptions and border tensions.

Thai officials, pressed by shortages after many Cambodian workers left, have emphasized that controlled access to jobs should reduce illegal hiring, shrink enforcement costs, and support stability in border districts. Refugee leaders in several camps described the Cabinet decision as a long-awaited chance to work without fear of arrest.

Policy Changes Overview

The policy was formally approved on August 26, 2025 and focuses on Myanmar refugees in nine official camps that together house about 81,000 people, nearly half of whom were born in displacement.

The government has stated that the first phase targets more than 40,000 working-age camp residents, with expansion possible after the system is tested. The approach includes a two-step process:

1. Apply for permission to leave the controlled camp area.
2. File a work permit application through the “special pass” channel.

Health screenings are part of the steps. The Ministry of Labor has begun coordination with camp authorities and provincial offices to set up intake, job-matching pathways, and employer compliance checks.

Because refugees do not hold valid Myanmar passports or other home-country documents, they will not enter the CGI migrant worker system used for regular foreign workers. Instead, a special pass will authorize travel out of camps for work and define rights and conditions.

The forthcoming royal announcement will specify:

• Locations where work is allowed
• Employer duties and compliance requirements
• The renewal window for the one-year permit
• Penalties for misuse

Officials said health teams have started camp visits for medical check-ups. Hospital costs will be shared: refugees cover half, with the remainder coming from public funds or aid partners. Note: food support from the state is not included in this plan.

For employers, the pathway aims to fill shortages in:

• Agriculture
• Food processing
• Construction
• Logistics
• Other sectors near the border

Thai business groups have urged clear rules on job sites, transport, and housing, noting that many potential jobs are within commuting range of the camps. Labor advocates say formal work status should raise safety standards and reduce wage theft, which has been common for undocumented workers.

Impact on Refugees and the Thai Economy

For refugees, the policy opens a legal door to employment outside camp fences for the first time in decades. That change comes when international aid has fallen and families face rising costs for daily needs.

Expected benefits for refugees:

• Steady income to support families
• Better ability to keep children in school
• Reduced pressure to accept risky or exploitative jobs
• Improved safety and labor protections compared with informal work

For Thailand’s economy, bringing thousands of workers into the formal economy can:

• Stabilize supply chains
• Reduce the burden on labor inspectors chasing illegal hiring
• Make it easier to track job sites and employer commitments
• Provide police and military clearer frameworks for movement near sensitive border zones

Labor rights activists add that legal work can lower cross-border tensions tied to trafficking and smuggling that thrive when people have no legal options.

The International Engagement Committee (IEC) welcomed the Cabinet’s move and pledged to work with Thai authorities on rollout, emphasizing dignity, safety, and opportunity. UNHCR urged the government to include as many eligible refugees as possible and to keep procedures simple and affordable. Refugee community groups have asked for:

• Clear translation support
• Fair fees
• Predictable renewal rules

Implementation and Next Steps

Practical steps for applicants, based on current guidance, will include:

• Applying for permission to leave the controlled camp area
• Filing a work permit application through the Ministry of Labor’s special pass system
• Completing a health screening as part of the process
• Receiving a special pass that defines the right to work and any restrictions

Authorities say key details—movement limits, renewal windows, employer obligations, and inspection rules—will be set out in the royal announcement. That document will also explain how the special pass fits with Thailand’s National Screening Mechanism (NSM), which has provided “Protected Person” status since 2023 but did not grant the right to work by itself.

As pass rules come into force, practical preparations needed include:

• Training staff in the Labor Ministry and provincial offices
• Mapping permitted job zones
• Preparing bilingual forms and translation support
• Setting up intake and help desks near camps
• Coordinating employer compliance checks and health screenings

Refugees and employers should look for official instructions from the Ministry of Labor, which will post procedures and contact points for local offices. For government-issued rules and future updates on work permits, see the Ministry of Labor’s website: Ministry of Labor, Kingdom of Thailand.

Likely administrative requirements for employers and applicants:

• Job offer letters and workplace addresses
• Proof of compliance with Thai wage and safety laws
• Identity checks based on camp records and prior screening

Humanitarian groups are urging fee waivers or reduced costs for low-income families, noting refugees already pay half of hospital care and often rely on loans for emergencies. Aid agencies are also pressing for measures to protect women and young workers from exploitation during hiring and transport.

Community-based organizations have asked the government to allow coordinated transport to and from job sites, especially during the rainy season when roads can be dangerous.

Oversight, Risks, and Outstanding Questions

Officials say the policy aims to reduce illegal employment and make border areas safer, but acknowledge that any permit system needs strong employer oversight to work well.

Key oversight needs:

• Well-resourced inspectors to visit remote job sites
• Monitoring that wages, hours, and safety equipment meet Thai law
• Clear penalties for employers who exploit or mislead workers

Business groups want an efficient process to avoid delays that might push employers back to informal hiring. Several local chambers have proposed help desks near camps so companies can file paperwork and schedule health checks in one place.

Outstanding questions that the royal announcement must resolve:

• Whether the pass allows movement across provincial lines
• How long job changes are allowed before status lapses
• Whether families can accompany a worker to a nearby town
• Exact renewal rules for the one-year term and applicable fees

Advocates hope the rules will recognize that many refugees were born in the camps and have no ties to Myanmar documents, so simple identity verification methods will be essential.

Possible Expansion and Long-Term Outlook

The policy could later expand beyond the initial 40,000 if the first phase shows the special pass system is secure, practical, and fair. UNHCR and IEC plan to continue talks with Thai agencies to widen access and strengthen social support, especially for people with health needs.

Labor rights groups argue that steady legal jobs will:

• Reduce the cost of policing illegal hiring
• Lower the risks of trafficking associated with lack of documents and income

Thailand’s move follows years of restrictions on camp residents. While the NSM created a pathway to “Protected Person” status, the lack of work rights kept many families dependent on aid. With aid budgets shrinking, the Cabinet decision addresses both a pressing labor gap and a human need for lawful income.

The test now is execution: clear rules, affordable steps, and safe transport that make the promise of legal work real for people who have waited a long time to join the Thai economy on fair terms.