25/12/2025
On , we attended an insightful press conference followed by a panel discussion on the situation of migration in Thailand in 2025. The discussion highlighted several urgent and interconnected challenges such as:
🔸 Ongoing Thai–Cambodian border tensions have forced migrants on both sides to return home, yet authorities 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 the scale of these movements. The resulting labor shortages affect the economy while also fueling social tensions and hostility.
🔸 The collapse of the State Audit Office building in March 2025 killed at least 28 migrant construction workers, according to official figures, though the actual number may be higher. Unresolved compensation claims, at least 11 cases, mostly involving migrants, 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, coupled with complex subcontracting, inconsistent migrant registration caused by frequent employer changes, which obsure responsibility.
🔸 Despite increased capacity and employer support, 𝟔𝟒% 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥. Language barriers, family financial hardship, limited scholarship opportunities, and inadequate support systems in Thai schools continue to block access to sustained education.
🔸 Although numerous reforms have been introduced, migr𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. Independent surveys document widespread wage withholding, excessive working hours, and restricted access to services, sharply contradicting official data.
🔸 Migration from Myanmar to Thailand is driven primarily by armed conflict, forced conscription, and political repression. Many refugees become migrant workers under restrictive policies that expose them to fear, financial loss, and irregular status, with no 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 as long as political instability persists in Myanmar.
The event underscored the 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲 in Thailand. Persistent failures in enforcement and accountability require structural reform, stronger regional analysis, and decisive action to address labor exploitation, protection gaps, and corruption.
A special thanks to Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand - FCCT for hosting this important event, RoisaiWongsuban for moderating and providing an overview, Wipaporn Wattanawi for moderating the panel discussion, and the following panelists:
Adisorn Kerdmongkol (Migrant Working Group), Worachai Sanansuk (มูลนิธิรักษ์ไทย : Raks Thai Foundation), Laddawan Lakkaew (Foundation for Rural Youth) Nattawut Kasem (Environmental Justice Foundation), Nilubon Phongpayom (Group of Entrepreneurs with Foreign Workers) and Dr. Sirada Khemanitthathai
