Photo courtesy of Khaosod

 

The number of authorized Cambodian workers in Thailand has decreased to 490,534 as of late August from 512,207 in May, the Thai Ministry of Labour reports. This reduction comes after border tensions between Cambodia and Thailand began to escalate. The current workforce comprises 676 skilled workers with permits and 489,858 manual laborers in various categories.

 

The Cambodian Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training noted that about 1.2 million Cambodians were working in Thailand when tensions rose in June. Since then, an estimated 780,000, constituting roughly 65% of these workers, have returned home. The largest group returning involved those employed in agriculture and livestock, fearing penalties for overstaying permits during checkpoint closures.

 

This mass departure has led to a labor shortage in Thailand's agricultural sector, previously dominated by Cambodian workers. Despite this, Thailand looks to fill these gaps with laborers from Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Cambodian workers were primarily engaged as general laborers in Bangkok, a sector now significantly impacted.

 

Thailand's Ministry of Labour has implemented a four-point plan to manage these changes, emphasizing legal worker protection, promoting registrations, combating human trafficking, and educating workers on their rights. Strategies include extending permits for current legal workers, considering work for Myanmar refugees, and registering undocumented laborers.

 

The Thai government also focuses on increasing domestic employment for Thais through digital platforms and employment offices, seeking to balance opportunities for locals while maintaining a structured legal environment for foreign workers. This approach aims to stabilize the labor market amidst ongoing regional disruptions.

 

Key Takeaways

• Border tensions have led to a significant reduction of Cambodian workers in Thailand.
• Labor shortages are affecting sectors like agriculture, with measures in place to address this.
• Thailand balances supporting foreign workers and expanding domestic job opportunities.

 

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Khaosod 2025-10-09

 

 

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The current workforce comprises 676 skilled workers with permits and 489,858 manual laborers in various categories.

 

So the 489,858 manual laborers don't have permits?

So it seems squabbling over a bit of useless land that really doesn't account for much is counter productive in the overall scheme for both sides. 

Further, it doesn't need his excellency lord taco's input that coming to an amicable agreement to share this area would result in a reasonable compromise. 

3 hours ago, watchcat said:

 

So the 489,858 manual laborers don't have permits?

Or skills... that explains a lot

Sad that a country has to depend on foreign labour.

5 hours ago, watchcat said:

does any one know what the daily rate for hiring manual laborers who dont have permits

So the 489,858 manual laborers don't have permits?

 

5 hours ago, watchcat said:

 

So the 489,858 manual laborers don't have permits?

Agriculture workers, dope growers?? 

 

18 hours ago, portisaacozzy said:

On 10/10/2025 at 4:57 AM, watchcat said:

does any one know what the daily rate for hiring manual laborers who dont have permits

 

"Probably"   less than half of what someone would pay for a "domestic" laborer

other half of the equation is are the "domestic "laborers just too lazy to work >???

plenty of people available with too much time on their hands

21 hours ago, FlorC said:

Sad that a country has to depend on foreign labour.

 

Thais like their hangmats while their wife will do the working, they're to lazy to work, hence they depend on foreign labour.

It just goes to show the mentality of the Thai Government and Thai people, this all started with a lovers tiff between 2 people, Teflon Tony and Hun Sen. It should've been settled in private but of course not as they are both media sluts. It's been allowed to get out of control and it's now Thailand versus Cambodia. It really has nothing to do with Thailand or Cambodia and their people. It's all about 2 disgusting money grabbers using people for their own use. Also Thai TV needs a decent kick in the butt for the role that they've played making the situation even more explosive.

6 hours ago, watchcat said:

 

Thais like their hangmats while their wife will do the working, they're to lazy to work, hence they depend on foreign labour.

Maybe some like to stay in their hangmats instead of working for 300/day.

But not all.

On 10/10/2025 at 8:49 AM, FlorC said:

Sad that a country has to depend on foreign labour.

Our countries are the same, UK coffee shops nearly all run by former Eastern bloc country workers, the hotel I stayed in last time, and the time before I was in the UK ,has foreign workers as maids and cleaners, my town of Northampton has lots of warehouse, most workers are foreign, doing shift work for no more than minimum wages

Doing the crap jobs no Brit will do, guy I meet in the UK once said I will not get out of bed for less than 600 quid a week, (probably a lot more now).