The Minister of Labor chaired the Foreign Worker Management Policy Committee (FWMC), unanimously agreeing to extend work permits for over 370,000 workers from Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam amid concerns over impacts on the production sector.
On 20 February 2026 GMT+7, Ms. Trinuch Thienthong, Minister of Labor, presided over the 2/2026 FWMC meeting with security agencies and private sector representatives to find solutions for foreign workers who have not completed work permit applications by the original deadline.
After the meeting, Ms. Trinuch revealed that the committee approved extending the deadlines for submitting health insurance documents, health check results, and work permit fees for Myanmar, Lao, and Vietnamese workers from the original deadline of 24 February to 31 March 2026 GMT+7, to ease processing bottlenecks and reduce overcrowding.
“Currently, 375,038 workers out of more than 890,000 have yet to complete the process. If their permits expire, they will become illegal workers immediately, severely affecting employers and businesses facing labor shortages, thereby threatening the country's labor stability,” the Minister of Labor said.
Ms. Trinuch ordered the Department of Employment to promptly draft a special Ministry of Labor announcement to support this resolution for Cabinet approval as soon as possible, to reassure the business sector and maintain lawful employment systems.