GNV News, August 22, 2025

On August 19, 2025, the Thai government approved the admission of 10,000 Sri Lankan workers. In Thailand, labor shortages have worsened in recent years amid rapid population decline and aging, and by August 19 already at least 3 million registered foreign workers from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam were employed, mainly in markets demanding low-cost labor.

However, there is a different backdrop to this decision. In February 2025, as the border dispute with Cambodia intensified and border closures were feared, an estimated 400,000 Cambodian workers returned home. As a result, labor shortages were reported, especially in construction and manufacturing, leading to the acceptance of workers from Sri Lanka. In addition, the acceptance of workers from Bangladesh, Nepal, the Philippines, and Indonesia was also announced. The Ministry of Labour has approved the admission of about 42,000 foreign workers and says the labor shortage can be filled within two months.

In July 2025, Thailand was embroiled in the most serious border conflict with Cambodia in decades, with at least 43 people killed and more than 300,000 displaced in both countries. In response to heightened tensions near the border, the Thai government is considering strengthening Thailand–Cambodia border security and installing permanent barriers. Authorities are exploring a worker-admission system that balances security with economic stability by securing needed labor.

Learn more about countries that accept migrant workers → “When the majority of the population are migrants: What is the reality of the Gulf states?”

Learn more about overseas migrant workers → “For their beloved families: The reality of Filipino overseas workers”

Cambodian workers engaged in the construction sector in Thailand (Photo: ILO Asia-Pacific / Flickr [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0])