Over 6,800 refugees from Myanmar camps along the Thai border have entered Thailand’s labor force since a new government program began in October 2025. The change came after decades of restrictions and recent foreign aid cutbacks that reduced food and healthcare support inside the camps.
According to reports, refugees like 31-year-old Ray Boe now work legally in construction and other sectors across 43 provinces, helping families regain financial independence. However, challenges persist around worker protections, contracts, and fair pay.
Background of the Labor Policy Change
Since the 1980s, more than 100,000 Myanmar refugees have lived in camps near the Thai border, barred from leaving to work legally. The Thai government reversed this policy in late 2025 following significant aid reductions, especially from the United States, which sharply limited rations and healthcare in the camps.
At the same time, territorial disputes between Thailand and Cambodia caused a large number of Cambodian migrant workers to return home, creating labor shortages that prompted authorities to allow Myanmar refugees work permits outside camps to meet labor demand.
Opportunities and Challenges for Refugees
Refugees entering the program now have the chance to work in sectors not restricted to Thai citizens and receive vocational training to improve their skills. 31-year-old Ray Boe described earning roughly $12 a day in Bangkok construction, helping support his family’s food and healthcare needs, a marked improvement over reliance on aid.
Advocates and officials see the program as a potential path for refugees to contribute economically while improving their living conditions. However, reports indicate many workers face underpayment, rough conditions, and lack formal contracts. Some borrowers enter work indebting themselves for permits, exams, and transportation.
Calls for Improvements in Refugee Employment Conditions
Rights groups emphasize the need for clear, translated contracts and accessible complaint systems. They also advocate expanding the program to more provinces and better regulation of job brokers acting as middlemen.
Despite these issues, many refugees remain eager to participate because camp conditions continue to worsen due to aid cuts. One refugee cited a need to provide for ill family members as motivation to take difficult jobs despite past negative experiences.
