Thailand’s work program aids Myanmar refugees
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Ray Boe, a refugee from Myanmar, is among the 6,800 people from Thai border camps now working in Thailand’s construction industry.
For decades, over 100,000 people fleeing conflict in Myanmar lived in camps along the Thai border, relying on aid. In October 2025, the Thai government began allowing refugees to work outside the camps after cuts to foreign aid, primarily from the United States, reduced support for food and healthcare.
Simultaneously, a labor shortage arose when hundreds of thousands of Cambodian workers returned home following a dispute between Thailand and Cambodia. The program permits refugees to work in most sectors across 43 of Thailand’s 76 provinces. Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs hopes the program will empower refugees and contribute to the country’s economy, and has increased vocational training within the camps. While labor and refugee rights groups have welcomed the initiative, they note that it has faced challenges.
Some refugees have experienced exploitative conditions, including unfulfilled promises about pay and working conditions, and deductions from their wages to cover hiring costs. Despite these issues, most refugees remain eager to participate, prioritizing the ability to support themselves and their families over the hardships they face. Groups are working with the government to improve the program by ensuring contracts are clear and accessible, and by screening job brokers.
