Thailand to Grant Work Permits to 40,000 Myanmar Refugees
The move aims to address critical labour shortages in the country's central and eastern regions, with permits valid for up to one year
- The Thai government will grant one-year work permits to over 40,000 Myanmar refugees from nine temporary shelters, starting October 1st.
- This initiative is designed to address significant labor shortages in Thailand's central and eastern provinces, particularly in industrial and agricultural hubs.
- To qualify, refugees must register, undergo a health check, and will be matched with employers for jobs not reserved for Thai nationals, after which they must return to their shelter.
The Thai government will allow over 40,000 Myanmar refugees to temporarily enter the workforce from 1 October.
The decision, approved by the Cabinet, aims to tackle labour shortages in Thailand’s central and eastern provinces by offering one-year work permits to those residing in nine temporary shelters.
Chamnanwit Terat, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, said his ministry is working with the Ministry of Labour to finalise the registration process for an estimated 40,000 workers.
Refugees must first register with the Department of Provincial Administration. While they will retain the right to live in the shelters, they will need to apply to their district chief for permission to work outside.
Once approved, the Provincial Employment Office will screen applicants for skills, from trades like carpentry and masonry to general labour, before matching them with employers and drafting a contract.
Workers will also be required to undergo a health check and secure health insurance before being issued a work permit. Permits will be valid for up to one year, after which workers must return to the shelter.
Chamnanwit confirmed that to ease the financial burden on the refugees, most registration fees will be waived, although health check costs will need to be negotiated between the employer and employee.
The programme will involve nine shelters in the provinces of Mae Hong Son, Tak, Kanchanaburi, and Ratchaburi.
The workers will be deployed to areas with significant labour shortages, particularly in the industrial and agricultural hubs of Rayong and Chanthaburi. They will not be permitted to take jobs that are reserved for Thai nationals.
The government hopes the measure will not only help ease labour shortages but also provide a more systematic way of managing the refugee population, reducing the risk of illegal employment and benefiting both workers and businesses.
