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Thailand to Register 700,000 Undocumented Migrant Workers

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Pictures courtesy of Khaosod

 

Thailand will legalise an estimated 500,000 to 700,000 undocumented migrant workers from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam under a special registration drive this month. The 15-day registration window, from 15 to 29 October 2025, aims to address ongoing labour shortages while bringing unregistered foreign workers into the formal employment system.

 

Labour Minister Treenuch Thienthong announced the move on 6 October, following a Cabinet resolution passed on 19 August 2025. The plan targets workers already employed in Thailand who lack legal status, preventing further illegal border crossings. The Department of Employment will operate an online registration platform, allowing employers to apply on behalf of their workers at any time during the registration period.

 

Officials estimate that based on past campaigns, they expect up to 700,000 to complete the process, including those with expired or unrenewed permits. Cambodian nationals are among the largest migrant groups, representing roughly 25% of Thailand’s construction workforce.


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Minister Treenuch said that ensuring workers are legally protected benefits national security, public health and Thailand’s reputation for respecting humanitarian and human rights standards. “When employers have legally registered workers who are protected under the law, it contributes to national stability in both the labour market and public security,” she stated.

 

According to Pichet Thongpan, Director-General of the Department of Employment, employers must complete online work permit applications and fee payments by 29 October. Proof of submission will act as temporary work authorisation until 28 December 2025. Health checks, health insurance registration, and biometric data collection must also be completed at Immigration Bureau offices, with Cambodian workers required to report every 60 days.

 

Once all requirements are met, successful applicants will receive one-year work permits valid until 14 October 2026. During that period, workers must update or obtain official identification or personal records through the Department of Provincial Administration. Pichet warned that the special permission will be revoked if any worker leaves Thailand without proper travel documents and a visa.

 

The Labour Ministry will also launch a new e-WorkPermit system on 13 October 2025 at eworkpermit.doe.go.th. The 24-hour digital platform will streamline all work permit processes, from submission to approval, without requiring face-to-face interaction. Minister Treenuch said the initiative aligns with the government’s digital transformation policy to improve transparency and efficiency in foreign labour management.

 

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Key Takeaways

 

• Thailand will register up to 700,000 undocumented workers from four neighbouring countries between 15–29 October 2025.

• The process grants one-year work permits and includes biometric and health requirements.

• A new nationwide e-WorkPermit system will launch on 13 October to modernise digital labour management.

 

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image.png  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-10-08

 

 

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Would that also include undocumented Chinese workers................:unsure:

It shows how rotten the system is... in fact it are illegal workers  because the workpermits are difficult to get, takes a long time and a lot of paperwork required.. Happily it are workers from the neighbouring countries, because if it were other foreigners, fines, deportation or even jail would be done....

What about the companies that hired these undocumented workers.. they are not being fined???

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