Govt looks to Sri Lankans to plug labour shortage

The government is acting to alleviate the labour shortage by extending the work permits of current Lao and Myanmar employees and will bring in additional workers from Sri Lanka. 

Labour Minister Julapun Amornvivat announced this after chairing a committee on migrant workers on Monday.

He said the measures were necessary and would  be presented to cabinet for formal approval.

The situation along the Thai-Cambodian border and fighting inside Myanmar had affected the movement of Cambodian and Myanmar workers.

The committee resolved to allow Lao and Myanmar workers who had arrived under labour import memorandums of understanding and whose work permits expire between Jan 1, 2026, and Dec 31, 2027, to continue working without the usual 30-day break. They could have their visas stamped at checkpoints near their home border and return to work. 

As for the 2.3 million migrant workers whose work permits expire on Feb 13 and March 31 next year, they would be extended until Feb 13, 2029. Illegal migrant workers would be allowed to work for one year in Thailand.

In addition, Thailand would bring in workers from Sri Lanka early next year. Their work permits would be valid for two years, renewable for another two years.

Myanmar refugees would be able to leave their camps and work within the same district without needing a work permit. 

The work permits of refugees working outside their camp district would be extended from one year to two years. They could have their work permits extended, and also seek permission to change their employer by visiting officials near their new workplace.