As aid declines, legal work offers hope to refugees in Thailand

A couple from Myanmar are among the first to benefit from the Thai Government’s move to grant refugees in camps access to legal employment, offering an inclusive solution to long-term displacement.

At 7:30 a.m., on a sprawling construction site in central Thailand, Ja Mar, 33, and No Zan, 47, line up with nearly 2,000 other workers. The couple, dressed in blue uniforms, take part in a stretching routine led by a site manager. The ritual marks the start of a new workday and another step towards stability for their family.

“The motivation to work is that we have a large family,” said Ja Mar. “It was hard to make ends meet in the camp. Our goal is to support our family’s livelihood and cover our children’s education.”

Ja Mar and No Zan are among some 60 refugees from Myanmar hired to work legally at the site – an opportunity that, until recently, did not exist. The job has taken them more than 600 kilometres from their children, five of whom still live together in Mae La camp to the north – the largest of the nine refugee camps along the Thai–Myanmar border. The separation is hard, but the decision was rooted in hopes of a better future.

“I am happy we found a way to improve our family's situation,” said Ja Mar, who leads a scaffold dismantling team on site while No Zan heads a site cleaning team. “My children go to school more easily than before. They need education for their future. But they’re not really happy about being away from us.”

A long-awaited chance

Ja Mar arrived in Thailand as an infant when his mother fled violence that destroyed their town, while No Zan crossed the border aged six, seeking safety with her family. Since then, they have lived in Mae La camp. For decades, refugees like Ja Mar and No Zan were largely confined within the camp’s perimeter.

There was no legal right to work, and travel outside was permitted only in limited circumstances, such as for medical treatment and legal appointments, according to Thanakorn Khansai, Deputy District Chief and Head of the Administrative Affairs Group in Tha Song Yang District, Tak Province.

“Most of them, if they worked at all, had small‑scale jobs or did light farming within a limited area,” Thanakorn said. “Therefore, they relied on assistance from organizations for food, health and other needs.”

This long‑standing system came under strain in early 2025, when global humanitarian funding was significantly cut with limited time to adjust, leaving nearly 80,000 refugees in the nine camps facing a future without the vital assistance they had relied on for decades.

Following years of sustained advocacy by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, its partners and civil society, this crisis – combined with Thailand’s labour shortages – led to a historic policy shift.

On 26 August 2025, the Royal Thai Government adopted a resolution allowing working‑age refugees from the nine camps to access legal employment from 1 October 2025. Refugees can now work in 43 of Thailand’s 77 provinces, and in most sectors.

Although the resolution applies only to those registered refugees living in the camps and is initially set to run for one year, it has the potential to become a regional benchmark for rights‑based solutions to refugee situations. It is an example of the types of inclusive policies that can enable refugees to become self-reliant and reduce long-term dependence on humanitarian aid.

After receiving permission from the Thai government, companies interested in hiring refugees can visit the nine camps and recruit interested workers.

“We’ve found that when we organize face-to-face meetings with the employers and refugees [in the camps], it helps both sides feel comfortable with each other,” explains Kriwut Tantikanedi, Senior Labour Specialist from the Tak Provincial Department of Employment. Refugees can ask employers about salaries, accommodation, health care and other conditions before deciding to sign up.

Ja Mar and No Zan were among the first group of refugees to apply for a job and now enjoy the same labour rights as other lawful workers in Thailand, including wages, health coverage and workplace protections.

The impact is already being felt back in Mae La, where Ja Mar and No Zan’s 19‑year‑old daughter, Ha Se Nar, takes care of her younger siblings and son while her parents work.

Before, the family survived on aid and irregular earnings. Ja Mar risked getting caught working informal jobs outside the camp, while No Zan sold groceries for a mobile vendor. Sometimes they only earned aa combined 150 baht ($4.80) a day. Now each earns 375 baht ($12) a day – enough to put food on the table and cover school supplies.

“I am happy that they got a job,” Ha Se Nar said. “Since they have a job, things got a bit better. I cook what the children like to eat.”

From camp to construction site

Initially concerned about their treatment due to their refugee status, Ja Mar and No Zan said the transition to work has been structured and supported.

“When I first came to work here from the camp, the manager from the company prepared everything,” said Ja Mar, “They provide us with accommodation, but we are responsible for our own food. They explained the regulations at the work site and in the dorms. If you follow the rules, everything is okay.”

The workday is structured and long. Workers line up at 7:30 a.m., begin around 8:00 a.m., break for lunch at midday, and end at 5.00 p.m. Sometimes they do overtime if they are willing. They work six days a week and rest on Sundays.

“When I first started it was tiring,” Ja Mar admitted, “but I got used to it – I’ve worked hard jobs before.”

Most importantly, legal employment has brought a newfound sense of security.

“When I first received my work permit, I felt that there would be no more difficulties for us,” he said. “We could work safely in the workplace. Working together with Thais – the team lead – teaches us what we need to know. They treat us well and we don’t experience discrimination.”

A way forward

From the district government’s perspective, allowing refugees to work is one of the few viable pathways forward.

“The first option is going to a third country, which is becoming less feasible,” Thanakorn said. “The second is returning to their homeland, but the situation in Myanmar isn't good right now. The third, which we're currently working on, is trying to integrate them into Thai society by allowing them to work.”

But the path is neither simple nor guaranteed. Many refugees have lived in the camps their whole lives, making adjustment to the outside world sometimes challenging. Almost all have language and cultural barriers they must overcome. Leaving the camp is also not an easy decision for those with competing responsibilities, such as caring for children or other dependents. Meanwhile, the paperwork needed for employers to hire refugees remains complex and burdensome.

“We are coordinating with the district office, the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Public Health, as well as NGOs both inside and outside the camps," said Kriwut. "Together, we are gathering ideas to develop a handbook that explains basic Thai laws, workers’ rights and benefits, and guidance on how to live and organize your life in Thai society. Our collaboration with UNHCR focuses on creating this handbook, with UNHCR serving as a key channel to reach people in the shelters."

Not all refugees have been as fortunate as Ja Mar and No Zan. There have been reports of refugees being poorly treated by some employers and ultimately returning to the camps.

“Only go to work after you know all the details,” Ja Mar advised. “If you go out without understanding the situation and encounter bad people, you will face difficulties. Before signing to work with an employer, make sure to think carefully, ask questions, discuss with the UN.”

Ultimately, Ja Mar and his family’s dream is freedom.

“Freedom is being recognized,” explained Ja Mar. “…Being recognized and living and travelling freely without limitations. We hope to have freedom, whether in the camp or elsewhere. If we’re able to have that chance, it will benefit both our children and our future.”

But for now, immediate needs come first: steady meals, school supplies, and a future where survival does not depend solely on aid.

Originally published by UNHCR