Thailand is planning to extend work permits for more than 2.3 million migrant workers until February 2029, as it seeks to address labour shortages and retain workers from neighboring countries.
The proposed measures would allow eligible Lao and Myanmar workers to renew their permits without the usual 30-day waiting period. Thailand also plans to recruit workers from Sri Lanka and expand employment opportunities for Myanmar refugees.
The Foreign Worker Management Policy Committee approved the proposals in principle, but they still require Cabinet approval and additional ministerial regulations before taking effect.
Under the proposal, Lao and Myanmar workers who entered Thailand through bilateral labour agreements and whose permits expire between 1 January this year, and 31 December, 2027, would be able to renew their status without the mandatory break.
They could complete visa procedures at checkpoints near their home countries before returning to work.
A separate measure would extend the permits of approximately 2.3 million migrant workers due to expire on 13 February or 31 March, 2027, until 13 February, 2029, according to Thai media reports. Undocumented migrant workers would also be allowed to work in Thailand for one year under the proposed arrangements.
Thailand expects to begin recruiting workers from Sri Lanka in early 2027. They would receive two-year work permits, renewable for another two years.
Legal Employment; A Challenge for Lao Workers
The proposed changes come as Thailand continues to enforce restrictions on foreign employment, while Lao workers face risks linked to undocumented work, exploitation, and human trafficking.
In September this year, Thai authorities warned employers against hiring foreign workers without valid permits or assigning them to occupations reserved for Thai nationals.
Employers face fines of up to THB 100,000 (USD 3,040) per worker, possible imprisonment, and a three-year ban on hiring foreign workers. Workers can also face fines, deportation, and a two-year ban on applying for work permits.
Thailand recorded 4.24 million foreign workers with valid permits in July 2026, including at least 306,806 Lao nationals. Prosecutions of Lao workers for illegal employment rose from 178 in 2022 to 746 in 2025.
A January 2026 investigation by Thai outlet Prachatai found that some Lao children leave school to work in Thailand, where they face long hours, unpaid wages, threats, and sexual exploitation. Recruiters sometimes cover travel and passport costs upfront, later deducting them from workers’ wages.
Despite these risks, employment in Thailand remains an important source of income for Lao households. Lao migrant workers sent home an estimated USD 366 million in the first half of 2025, according to figures cited in the September report.
Previous Permit Extensions
Thailand has previously extended work permits for migrant workers while requiring them to leave the country to complete renewal procedures.
In April 2024, Thai authorities instructed Lao, Cambodian, and Myanmar workers whose four-year employment agreements had expired to leave Thailand by the end of the month to avoid overstaying their visas.
Their permits had been extended until 30 April that year after the original agreements ended on 1 January, 2024. Employers wishing to retain them were required to submit new employment applications, allowing workers to return to their previous jobs.
The latest proposal would remove the 30-day waiting period for eligible Lao and Myanmar workers. It would be potentially reducing interruptions to their employment and making it easier for employers to retain experienced staff.
