On 3 December 2025, the Mekong Migration Network (MMN) in collaboration with SEA Junction hosted a panel discussion and photo exhibition in Bangkok focusing on Thailand’s recent cross-border migration issues. Under the banner “Neighbours in Need – in Need of Neighbours”, the event was attended by more than 50 participants, including representatives from the business sector, different local and international Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), United Nations (UN) agencies, Thai government officials, and academic experts.

Ms Reiko Harmia, MMN’s Regional Coordinator, welcomed attendees, introduced the moderator and panellists, then set the scene for the discussion. She highlighted the immense contribution made by migrants in Thailand over the decades, the concerning impact of the ongoing border conflict on Cambodian workers, and the need to protect the labour rights of refugees who have recently been granted the right to work for the first time.

The panel discussion was moderated by migration expert Ms Jackie Pollock, formerly of the International Labour Organization (ILO). The panellists were Ms Jacqueline Strecker, Senior Development Officer of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); Mr Htoo Chit, Executive Director of the Foundation for Education and Development (FED); and Ms Nilubon Phongphayorm, founder of the Group of Entrepreneurs with Foreign Workers (GEFW). Each panellist briefly introduced their organisation’s perspectives and experiences regarding cross-border migration issues and the new policies introduced by Thailand over the past year.

On the growing number of migrants in Thailand following the 2021 Myanmar military coup, Mr Htoo Chit of FED elaborated on the recent push factors driving migration, emphasising the displacement caused by the ongoing civil war and the enforcement of conscription policies targeting young men and women. He remarked that:

“Since the military coup in 2021, we have seen an increase in the number of people leaving Myanmar to escape political persecution and economic instability, leading to a rise in mixed migration. Moreover, since 2024, when the conscription law in Myanmar came into force, thousands of young adults have been forced to flee the country.”

Mr Htoo Chit explained that many of these migrants face limited job opportunities once in Thailand. They are often overqualified for the low-paid jobs in which they are forced to work, since professional occupations in Thailand, such as those in education and healthcare, are ringfenced for locals. Many migrants also face difficulties keeping their documents up to date, as they are fearful to approach the Myanmar Embassy, which is now under the control of the military junta.

Following the Thai government’s decision to allow refugees residing in the nine temporary shelters access to formal employment, Jacqueline Strecker from UNHCR framed the policy shift within a global context of sustainable responses to displacement. She highlighted that long-term reliance on camp-based approaches is unsustainable, limits human capital, and creates dependency, particularly at a time when humanitarian systems are overstretched. In this context, she emphasised that expanding refugees’ access to work should be understood not as charity but as an economic investment for Thailand. She noted that:

“Other countries have demonstrated that when you provide opportunities for refugees to work, this not only contributes to self-reliance, it also benefits the host country, contributing to economic productivity.”

She further remarked that, following the Cabinet Resolution authorising the right to work, around 900 refugees have already left the shelters for employment opportunities, describing this as a manageable and hopeful moment for Thailand to translate policy into practice. In addition, at the regional level, the change in policy can be seen as an example for East Asia.

Finally, Ms Phongphayorm introduced the GEFW as a collective of small businesses who have joined together to overcome some of the challenges faced when employing migrant workers. This includes a lack of understanding regarding the migrant worker recruitment process and difficulties in completing worker registration within the legally prescribed timeframes. In response to these challenges, her organisation has sought to improve employers’ collective understanding of Thai labour laws, particularly those related to the employment of migrant workers.

Ms Phongphayorm highlighted the importance of migrant workers for the sustainability of the Thai economy. She emphasised that:

“Migrant workers from neighbouring countries constitute a crucial part of the country’s workforce, especially now as the country faces a significant labour shortage driven by the return of Cambodian workers due to political tensions, rising hatred, and fears of violence from Thai people.”

Ms Phongphayorm also shared GEFW’s concerns regarding the employment of refugees, noting that its members reported that the information provided by the Department of Employment is incomplete and unclear. She expressed the view that hiring procedures are unnecessarily complex, which has enabled labour brokers, rather than genuine employers, to gain advanced access to refugee workers.

Following the panellists’ presentations, the floor was opened for Q&A. Mr Zcongklod Khawjang, Director of Displaced Persons Policy Coordinating and Illegal Migration, Foreign Affairs Division of the Thai Ministry of Interior (MOI), joined the panellists to answer questions related to refugees’ right to work. On this topic, Mr Zcongklod Khawjang highlighted the Thai government’s collaboration with UN agencies, including UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration, which have been supporting displaced people from Myanmar over the past three decades. He also emphasised the Thai government’s ongoing efforts to develop policies that safeguard the interests of Cambodian workers, despite the tensions and uncertainty created by recent events along the border. Finally, he underscored the progress made by Thailand in integrating skilled migrants and refugees into the economy through recent policy reforms. However, he noted that both advancements and setbacks are influenced by public sentiment, which remains a key consideration in the government’s policy decision-making.

A member of the audience inquired about existing public information campaigns aimed both at preventing refugees from falling victim to fraudulent employment practices and at ensuring host communities are better informed. In response, Ms Rebecca Napier-Moore from the ILO explained:

“ILO has been engaging with other UN agencies and NGOs to ensure that the recruitment process is fair and that the work is decent. We have been really encouraged by the job fairs, as this new model implemented by Thailand for foreign workers is providing a direct recruiting option that cuts out the middleman, which, at the same time, has helped people begin work free of debt. Overall, this has led to increased accountability and transparency.”

Next, in relation to the ongoing departure of Cambodian workers, a Cambodian human rights activist reflected that:

“Cambodians not only face difficulties because of the border conflict with Thailand, but they are also facing political and economic instability at home. In addition, the decision of returning is not one that can be taken lightly, as many migrants are well established in Thailand, having lived here for more than 20 years. Many have studied here, secured jobs, and started families.”

Later, a Cambodian migrant worker raised his concerns about the lack of reliable data on the actual number of Cambodian migrants in Thailand. He suspected that these inconsistencies stem from the hasty return of large numbers of people when the clashes began. The realisation that there are limited job opportunities in Cambodia led to many returning to Thailand without proper documentation. On this point, Ms Jackie Pollock stated that:

“Knowing the actual number of migrants from Cambodia in Thailand and those returning is very difficult—perhaps impossible—but there needs to be a collective effort to document as much as we can, because for the formulation and implementation of successful policies that look after those migrants, first there needs to be clarity on the real numbers.”

An online participant asked whether the Thai government had considered the possibility of allowing migrant Myanmar doctors to treat Myanmar migrants as patients. They said that this would ease pressure on the Thai health service, provide employment for doctors, and act as a means to alert the community of infectious diseases. In response, Mr Zcongklod Khawjang from the MOI stated that:

“This is one of the main challenges faced by the Thai government. Before taking such a decision, we need to carefully consider the sentiments of the Thai people, and ensure that they are well informed about the situation and the reasons for any policy decision.”

The final intervention by Dr Rosalia (Lia) Sciortino Sumaryono of SEA Junction emphasised the importance of implementing pathways to permanent residence for migrant workers and refugees. The event concluded with MMN announcing that it will continue advocating to improve the current situation for migrants using the insights shared during the panel discussion.