CNI News
4 July 2025
They wanted the 1.8 million Myanmar migrant workers whose documents expired to be granted an extension as soon as possible under the new Thai labor minister, migrant workers' rights activists told CNI News.
The Thai government has temporarily suspended the extension of visas and other documents for these 1.8 million Myanmar migrant workers who expired since February 13, 2025.
Amidst the current change in government in Thailand, no announcement has been made regarding the extension, but he hopes it will be implemented quickly, U Aung Kyaw, a labor activist, told CNI News.
"In the change of Thai politics, our labor affairs manager resigned, and now, 1.8 million of our migrant workers in Thailand are struggling with document renewal issues. I hope that when the new Minister of Labor takes office, the issue of extending the term of these workers will be quickly resolved. The 1.8 million Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand expired on February 13, 2025. There has been no implementation on extending their documents so far. "The Thai government has allowed these workers to work regularly until August 13 under the liberalization law. When will they be extended? I hope that the extension issues will be handled quickly under the new minister," he said.
While seeing Thai PM Paetongtarn who has been suspended from her post
Thai Labor Minister Phipat Ratchakitprakarn resigned on June 19 following a border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, and has been replaced by a new minister, Pongkawin Juangroongruangkit. Despite the change in the Minister of Labor, the labor issues will likely continue as planned under the previous minister, but if parliament is dissolved, changes could occur, said U Min Oo, who is helping with labor issues, to CNI News.
“The new Minister of Labor is continuing to work on labor issues as usual. Although the Ministry of Labor website states that the minister has changed, the 400 baht wage that was designated starting from July 1 has been officially approved. The new cabinet is expected to continue the work planned previously. If parliament is dissolved and elections are held, change could happen. For the time being, they will continue to implement the measures set by previous ministers," he said.
Thailand is currently in a political crisis due to the Thai-Cambodian border conflict, and Prime Minister Paetongtarn has been suspended from office and is under investigation by the court.
Then, Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit (70) took over as interim Prime Minister.
Currently, Paetongtarn has been suspended from her post until the court's final ruling, but remains in the government as Minister of Culture.
