Photo Credit: The ASEAN Magazine
The population of migrant workers in Thailand is on the rise, with a 23% increase attributed to the border dispute with Cambodia prompting more foreign labourers to seek employment in the country, according to the Employers’ Confederation of Thai Trade and Industry (EconThai).
Between January and August, approximately 70,000 additional workers arrived in Thailand. Many Cambodian workers returned to their home country following heightened tensions on July 24, when clashes erupted between Thailand and Cambodia—highlighted by a Cambodian rocket hitting a 7-Eleven store in Thailand and Thai air strikes targeting Cambodian military sites.
Cambodian migrants are commonly employed in sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, construction, and manufacturing, particularly in Prachin Buri province.
Tanit Sorat, vice-chairman of EconThai and chair of the National Labour Development Advisory Council, noted that while local employers initially worried about a shortage of Cambodian workers, the situation has since stabilized, alleviating those concerns.
To address short-term impacts, the Cabinet approved a six-month extension for migrant workers’ work permits, with the possibility of further extensions for additional two-year periods afterward.
Employers have increased wages and overtime pay to attract foreign workers, who find the earnings greater than Thailand’s minimum daily wage, said Mr. Tanit.
Additionally, the government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sri Lanka to recruit 10,000 workers, with potential plans to expand that number by up to 30,000 to replace Cambodian workers. Efforts are also underway to recruit more migrants from Myanmar, including refugees living in Thailand, to prevent labor shortages.
Currently, Thailand hosts nearly 4 million migrant workers, with around 80% coming from Myanmar, followed by workers from Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia, according to EconThai.
The number of Cambodian workers has decreased from around 20,000-30,000 under an MoU between Bangkok and Phnom Penh, especially as many Cambodian workers returned home—both legally and illegally—said Mr. Tanit.