BANGKOK — Thailand is considering allowing 42,000 refugees from nine camps to work legally as the country grapples with severe labor shortages following the mass exodus of Cambodian workers, according to Somchai Morakotsriwan, Director General of the Department of Employment.
The Ministry of Labor estimates demand for 25,000-30,000 Cambodian workers nationwide, but discussions with employers reveal broader labor needs across multiple sectors. The Cabinet will review the refugee employment proposal on August 26, with officials from the Ministry of Labor and Ministry of Home Affairs having already held preliminary talks.
Multiple Solutions Under Consideration
Beyond refugee employment, Thailand has approved recruiting Sri Lankan workers, though this process requires a bilateral memorandum of understanding and will take considerable time as new workers must learn Thai laws, language and culture.
Justice Minister Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong has proposed temporarily employing people under probation and correctional supervision—numbering several hundred thousand—to meet high labor demand. The Ministry of Labor continues discussions with the Justice Ministry on this initiative.
Another proposal would allow discharged soldiers and those nearing discharge to enter the workforce temporarily during seasonal labor peaks, particularly November’s agricultural harvest season.
Economic Impact Remains Unclear
Associate Professor Kiriya Kulkolkarn from Thammasat College’s Faculty of Economics, who studies migrant worker impacts, said while effects aren’t yet widespread, certain industries heavily dependent on Cambodian labor—construction, fishing, and agricultural work—have been significantly affected.
“There is no official figure confirming how many Cambodian workers have returned home. The government is unlikely to release this information due to security concerns,” she said. NGO reports suggest 300,000-400,000 Cambodian workers, or about 90% of the total, have returned home.
Kiriya recommended the Ministry of Labor and Immigration Department jointly survey and publish exact numbers of departed Cambodian workers to highlight the problem’s extent and promote comprehensive solutions.
Previous Measures Fall Short
Earlier government leniency programs allowing undocumented migrant workers to continue working have failed to address the crisis, as most workers already had jobs outside the legal system with little incentive to register officially.
The researcher suggested Thailand should consider legally readmitting Cambodian workers who returned home but are attempting illegal re-entry due to lack of work opportunities in Cambodia.
“Even though current conflict threatens Thailand’s security, allowing illegal re-entry only increases insecurity. If we admit them legally, we can properly identify them,” Kiriya said. “I believe many Cambodians who returned will inevitably come back once the situation stabilizes.”
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Related article: Thailand Imports 10,000 Sri Lankan Workers To Replace Cambodians