Labor Ministry Eyes Renewal Of Myanmar Worker Pacts
Thailand's Labor Ministry is pursuing measures to address construction industry labor shortages, including extending work permits for Myanmar workers and granting amnesty to expired workers from four Southeast Asian nations.
Labor Minister Chulphan Amornvivat received Thailand Construction Association president Lisa Gamtragoolpanich and her delegation on August 4, 2025, to discuss solutions to the foreign worker shortage caused by border instability and Myanmar's internal turmoil. Both sides identified five priority measures: extending residency and work periods for Myanmar MOU workers completing four-year terms, with a proposed 30-day exemption allowing temporary continued employment; granting amnesty to workers from four nationalities (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam) whose permits have expired, allowing up to two years of legal temporary work while balancing economic, social, and security concerns; facilitating new Myanmar worker recruitment through air routes, since land borders remain closed due to fighting; streamlining and digitizing the work permit application system (e-Work Permit) to reduce paperwork and improve efficiency, including employer transfers without physical office visits; and exploring additional measures with security agencies to manage undocumented foreign workers. The Labor Ministry emphasized its commitment to supporting the construction sector, a pillar of national infrastructure development, while coordinating with the private sector on sustainable solutions.
