Thailand is preparing to open new worker registration to fill urgent labor shortages, according to Myanmar migrant worker rights advocates in Thailand. Following border conflicts between Thailand and Cambodia that led many Cambodian workers to return home, the Thai Ministry of Labor has officially reported an emergency need for approximately 42,000 workers. This has prompted plans to open new worker registration in the near future.
Ko Ye Min from AAC explained that while there are many undocumented Myanmar workers in Thailand, the current labor demand can only be filled through legal worker registration. He noted that beyond the officially reported emergency need for 42,000 workers, the actual demand including unreported shortages could reach hundreds of thousands, which is why new worker registration is likely to open very soon.
Migrant worker rights advocates strongly emphasize that workers must only work with trusted and reliable agents when the new registration opens. They specifically warn against making quick online payments or financial transactions and advise being extremely cautious of unusual monetary demands. Additionally, they stress the importance of avoiding scams by not being too trusting and maintaining vigilance throughout the registration process. The advocates continue to provide guidance to ensure workers can safely navigate the upcoming registration opportunity while avoiding potential fraud and exploitation.
