Mizzima-July 22
The Thai Cabinet has approved an extension of the temporary stay and work permit leniency period for legally employed migrant workers from Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam until December 11, 2027. The decision was approved during a cabinet meeting on July 14 and officially announced on July 19 by Captain Padarat Thongsaloykon, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister’s Office. The Thai government clarified that this initiative aims to sustain national economic momentum and mitigate labor shortages in key industries. Ko Ye Min from the Aid Alliance Committee (AAC), an organization assisting Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand, told Mizzima that this decision highly benefits migrant workers by preventing them from falling into undocumented status. “With this extension, workers will have sufficient time to systematically renew their residence permits. It also facilitates smoother processes for job seeking, changing employers, or relocating. Prior to this extension, administrative delays and insufficient processing windows put workers at risk of becoming undocumented. This decision successfully averts that risk,” he said. Captain Padarat Thongsaloykon stated that the government extended the leniency period to stabilize the national economy and alleviate labor shortages in the industrial and service sectors. “If work permits expire en masse, it could halt production lines and force businesses to close temporarily. This measure was implemented for pre-emptive prevention from such an outcome,” she said. The government emphasized that this extension will not register new migrant workers; it only permits existing Myanmar, Lao, and Vietnamese workers already registered in the Thai labor management system to continue residing and working in the country. According to Thai government data, approximately 770,000 migrant workers from Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam will benefit from this decision. Most of these workers are employed in manufacturing, construction, agriculture, services, and tourism, serving as a critical workforce for Thailand’s economy. Read mor at:
