One year on, Thailand’s decision to grant refugees the right to work is transforming lives and supporting growth

BANGKOK / THAM HIN – One year after the Royal Thai Government adopted a landmark policy granting long-staying refugees from Myanmar the right to work, more than 6,000 refugees have entered the workforce, enabling them to support their families and contribute to key sectors of the Thai economy.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, marked the anniversary today in Tham Hin Temporary Shelter, one of nine refugee camps along the Thai-Myanmar border. UNHCR Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Ms. Hai Kyung Jun, commended the Government's leadership and highlighted the positive impact of the policy.

"UNHCR is grateful to the Royal Thai Government and the people of Thailand for hosting and protecting refugees for many decades," said Jun. "One year after the new policy was adopted, we see what is possible when a host country leads with courage and humanity, and we look forward to continuing working with Thailand to carry this momentum forward."

In June 2026, Thailand took a further step, commencing issuance of official ‘Myanmar Displaced Persons’ identity cards to long-staying refugees, providing legal status and enabling access to essential services such as banking and telecommunications.

Thailand’s progressive approach demonstrates how policies that promote refugee self-reliance can also help address labour needs in key sectors, including manufacturing and services.

"The right to work is the foundation, not the finish line," said Jun. "When refugees have the freedom to move, keep their families together, access services, and participate fully in society, they are far more likely to become self-reliant and contribute to their host communities."

The Royal Thai Government has also developed a roadmap to encourage greater self-reliance for refugees, contributing to UNHCR’s global goal of halving the number of refugees in protracted displacement who remain reliant on humanitarian assistance within a decade. UNHCR stands ready to continue supporting these efforts in partnership with the government.

The anniversary comes as the security, humanitarian and human rights situation inside Myanmar remains dire. There are over 1.6 million refugees and asylum-seekers from Myanmar across the region, among them almost 1.2 million Rohingya refugees generously hosted by Bangladesh.

UNHCR continues to call for unhindered access to territory and asylum, respect for the principle of non-refoulement, and stronger international support for Thailand, Bangladesh and other countries in the region hosting refugees, alongside renewed efforts toward solutions.

For more information, please contact:

• In Bangkok, Mariko Hall: [email protected], +66 63 003 2028

• In Geneva, Eujin Byun: [email protected], +41 79 747 87 19