The Ministry of Labour in Thailand has announced a critical February 13, 2025, deadline for employers to renew work permits for migrant workers from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Renewals will allow these workers to continue legally residing and working in Thailand until February 13, 2027.
Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn emphasized the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure ethical employment practices and the protection of migrant workers’ legal rights. Employers are urged to comply with labour laws and ensure their workers are covered under Section 33 of the Social Security Act.
Thailand currently employs over 3.3 million legal migrant workers, with more than 2.4 million coming from the four neighboring countries. Employers hiring workers without valid permits or assigning tasks outside their permitted scope face severe penalties, including fines, imprisonment, deportation, or bans on future foreign hires.
During a recent visit to Phuket on January 9, 2025, Minister Phiphat reviewed labour policies and enforcement measures at regional construction sites. Accompanied by senior officials, he inspected projects employing hundreds of migrant workers, ensuring compliance with the Cabinet’s September 2024 decision. All workers were found to have valid permits, and their health checks, biometric data, and worker files were being processed.
The Department of Employment (DOE) has streamlined the renewal process, allowing online applications for Cambodian and Myanmar workers through dedicated platforms. However, Laotian and Vietnamese workers must return to their home countries by February 13, 2025, and comply with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to re-enter Thailand.
For further inquiries, employers can contact their provincial labour offices, the Bangkok labour office, or the DOE’s hotlines at 1506 (button 2) and 1694, available 24/7.