Bangkok: Minister of Labor confirms that no Cambodian workers have requested to return to their country, while the Thai labor situation still has enough reserves from many other countries.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labor, spoke about the situation of Cambodian workers in Thailand after meeting with the Department of Employment, which reported that the total number of Cambodian workers in Thailand is more than 500,000 people. These workers are divided into three groups: those who come to work legally, numbering more than 400,000; those who come illegally; and a group of no more than 20,000 seasonal fruit pickers who commute for their work.
The latest meeting with the Employers' Confederation of Thailand confirmed that no Cambodian workers have expressed a desire to return to Cambodia. Each employer's confederation has a significant number of Cambodian workers, reinforcing the stability of the workforce.
The Minister of Labor emphasized that there will be no forced repatriation of Cambodian workers. However, should any worker wish to return voluntarily, the government will facilitate this process without obstruction. Additionally, for Cambodian workers with expired passports unable to renew them back home, the Department of Employment will assist in extending their passports for another year. The Minister assured business establishments that despite tensions in border areas, Cambodian workers in Thailand will continue to work without interruption, with no requests for repatriation.
Regarding laborers under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Cambodian government, recent contract renewals indicate no issues, as the agreements remain valid until February 2026.
If the situation evolves, the Ministry of Labor has a plan in place. Besides Cambodia, Thailand hosts workers from Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam, with Myanmar providing the largest contingent. The MOU with Myanmar is being renewed, covering more than 2,000,000 workers for another two years. Additional Myanmar workers are already employed in Thailand, awaiting registration. The government affirms that there are sufficient workers from these countries supporting the Thai labor market.