Thailand’s government faces growing pressure to tackle a migrant worker shortage that is compounding economic difficulties driven by high energy costs and threatening key industries, a business group warned on Friday.
The Thai Chamber of Commerce called on the government to speed up work permit renewals, particularly for Cambodian workers, to prevent them losing their legal status. The move is aimed at avoiding disruptions in the manufacturing and agriculture sectors during a critical period for the Thai economy, said Wiboon Suphakarnpongkul, vice chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, representing the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking.
Thailand has approximately 3.9 million migrant workers, but the Cambodian workforce has dropped sharply to around 194,000 from roughly 550,000. Wiboon made the revelation during a briefing, noting that many Cambodian workers returned home following a border clash between Thailand and Cambodia last year.
Cambodian labour is essential for the fruit harvesting season in eastern Thailand, which begins in late April and runs for about five months. Many permits have expired or are nearing expiry, with renewals delayed due to security concerns, he added.
The eastern fruit industry is valued at around 200 billion baht annually and faces reduced quality and missed harvest windows due to the labour shortfall, Wiboon said. A shortage could also affect rice export logistics, he noted.
The private sector is proposing a three to six month permit extension for Cambodian workers as a short-term fix, alongside longer-term strategies to expand labour supply through new agreements with countries including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Indonesia, reported Bangkok Post.
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