Thailand OKs Legal Work For 80,000 Myanmar Refugees Amid Labor Shortage

Thailand approved a policy allowing around 80,000 long-staying Myanmar refugees in border camps to work legally, with 42,601 of working age eligible. The cabinet-backed move aims to bolster the economy and ease labor gaps after a recent exodus of Cambodian workers. UNHCR praised the shift as a strategic investment that can lift GDP, reduce aid dependence, and spur local demand. The decision may set a regional precedent for integrating refugees through legal employment pathways.