Thailand has moved to allow legal employment for about 80,000 Myanmar refugees who have lived for decades in nine camps along the Thai–Myanmar border. Officials say the shift is aimed at easing the country’s labor crunch while giving long-marginalized people a chance to work.
The cabinet approved the measure in late July 2025 and announced it publicly in August 2025, opening a path for refugees to leave camps for jobs under new permits and safeguards—an important turn in Thailand’s approach to refugee labor rights.
Authorities say 42,601 of the eligible refugees are of working age. Many have been in the camps since 1984, effectively stateless and shut out of formal jobs. Until now, they were not allowed to work legally outside the shelters and depended on aid. The change gives them a way to earn wages and contribute to the economy, especially in sectors short on staff.
The timing is no accident. Thailand’s labor market has been under strain, worsened by armed border conflict with Cambodia that triggered the exit of around 520,000 Cambodian workers—about 12% of the national workforce—who had staffed construction, agriculture, and services. As of July 25, 2025, Thailand already employed nearly 3 million Myanmar workers. The new policy expands that reliance, turning to Myanmar refugees who have been in Thailand for years but barred from legal jobs.
UNHCR welcomed the decision as a “strategic investment,” arguing that lawful work will unlock refugees’ potential, reduce pressure on aid, and boost local demand that can lead to more jobs for everyone. Thai government spokesperson Jirayu Hongsub confirmed the cabinet’s support for the Labor Ministry’s plan, presenting it as a practical response to worker shortages with broad economic benefits.
Policy Details and Rollout
Under the plan, eligible Myanmar refugees will be allowed to apply for permission to leave camps and work legally across Thailand. Officials say a basic process will guide applicants from screening to job placement.
The government and humanitarian groups describe the steps as:
- Eligibility check
- Refugees must live in the nine designated shelters along the border and meet criteria set by the authorities.
- Application for work permission
- Refugees submit requests to leave camps for employment, following procedures issued by the Ministry of Labor and the Department of Employment.
- Health screening
- Mandatory health checks are required to protect public health before work approval.
- Work authorization
- After clearance, refugees receive documentation confirming their legal right to work.
- Employment
- Job-seekers can pursue roles in sectors facing the biggest shortages—especially agriculture, construction, and services.
Authorities stress that health exams and proper documentation are non-negotiable. The Department of Employment is also registering unlawful migrant workers already in the country and looking for new sources of labor to replace those who left. That broader effort sits alongside the camp-based program, forming a mixed approach to stabilize the workforce while regularizing status where possible.
Full instructions for employers and refugees are expected to run through the Ministry of Labor and the Department of Employment. For official updates and procedural notices, readers can monitor the Thai Ministry of Labor website, which publishes regulations and public guidance in line with cabinet decisions.
Economic Stakes and Labor Rights Risks
The economic need is clear: Thailand must fill gaps in low- and mid-skill roles to keep farms, construction sites, hotels, and restaurants running. With nearly 3 million Myanmar nationals already working in Thailand, the country relies heavily on cross-border labor.
Allowing Myanmar refugees to join the legal workforce adds people who often:
– Speak local languages or dialects,
– Know Thai culture, and
– Are familiar with living conditions near the border.
UNHCR argues that bringing these refugees into the tax and spending stream will:
– Lift GDP,
– Strengthen local small businesses, and
– Make communities more resilient during downturns.
However, there are significant risks if labor rights are weak or poorly enforced. Key concerns include:
– Many Myanmar migrants remain undocumented.
– Some face debt bondage, underpayment, or unsafe conditions.
– The National Screening Mechanism leaves many workers outside protection status, creating openings for abuse.
To mitigate these risks, officials and employers must ensure:
– Inspectors track recruitment, contracts, and payment methods.
– Refugees granted permission can travel to job sites without fear of arrest, provided they carry documents.
– Employers provide written contracts in languages workers understand, keep records of hours, and follow the legal minimum wage.
– Injured workers receive medical care and compensation under Thai law, like other employees.
Refugee families have long lived on tight rations and small stipends inside camps. Many parents possess skills—farming, carpentry, cooking, sewing—that were never permitted in the formal labor market. Legal work can turn those skills into steady income. The policy can also help older teens who finished secondary school in camps but had no way to start careers, enabling apprenticeships or entry-level jobs with a pathway to better pay.
Employers should prepare for practical needs:
– Language support or on-the-job training for some hires.
– Safe housing near worksites if daily travel is impractical.
– Clear onboarding covering safety standards, pay schedules, and grievance steps.
– Sector-specific measures:
– Agriculture: information about seasonal schedules, peak times, and rest periods.
– Construction: provision of safety gear and pre-work safety training.
Impact on Workers and Employers
For the policy to succeed, three elements must happen simultaneously:
1. Fast paperwork — simple, transparent rules and timelines from the Ministry of Labor and Department of Employment.
2. Strong oversight — trained labor inspectors with language support and trustworthy complaint channels.
3. Real access to jobs — job fairs near camps, mobile recruitment teams with interpreters, and NGO partnerships that connect employers and camp residents.
Refugees will have questions about pay, hours, and benefits. Key expectations include:
– Thailand’s minimum wage and overtime rules should apply equally.
– Employers should explain wage rates and terms in writing.
– Health checks are mandatory—workers should be told what tests are required and who pays for them.
– If an employer offers housing or transport, costs and conditions must be clarified upfront.
NGOs and UNHCR can support the transition with:
– Pre-departure briefings inside camps on contracts, worker hotlines, and document safety.
– Outreach that intentionally includes women and people with disabilities.
– Human rights monitors visiting worksites to spot forced overtime, delayed wages, or recruitment fees—common pressure points that can lead to exploitation.
Officials say a broader labor cleanup is underway. The Department of Employment is registering people who have worked unlawfully and exploring new worker pipelines to fill gaps left by the Cambodian exodus. Done well, the refugee work program can reduce incentives for risky, irregular hiring and shift more workers into the legal system—where taxes are paid and labor rights are more enforceable.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, Thailand’s move could become a regional example if it delivers both reliable staffing for employers and fair conditions for workers. With aid budgets tight, letting refugees work is one of the few ways to reduce long-term dependence on humanitarian support while keeping economies humming. UNHCR frames the policy as a model of inclusion that other governments facing similar worker shortages could copy.
What Comes Next — Measures of Success and Risks
The rollout will be judged by several concrete indicators:
– How quickly permits are issued.
– How many refugees actually secure jobs.
– Whether reported abuses decline rather than rise.
If early results are positive, Thailand may consider expanding rights—such as broader freedom of movement or more access to education and training—to support long-term integration. For now, the focus is on getting people safely from camps to workplaces and ensuring employers are ready to receive them.
The stakes are high. A fair job means paying rent, buying food without ration cards, and saving small amounts for emergencies for refugee families. For Thailand, it means keeping construction sites open, crops harvested, and tourist areas staffed during peak seasons.
If systems work—documents issued on time, health checks done, wages paid properly—the benefits will be felt on both sides of the border.
Frequently Asked Questions
This Article in a Nutshell
Thailand’s July–August 2025 policy lets about 80,000 Myanmar refugees from nine camps apply for legal work, addressing labor shortages. The program includes eligibility checks, health screenings and authorizations focused on agriculture, construction and services, while officials and UNHCR call for strong oversight to prevent exploitation.
