Refugee Social and Economic Inclusion:

On 26 August 2025, the Cabinet of Thailand approved a resolution allowing refugees from the conflict in Myanmar residing in temporary shelters to work legally in Thailand. This represents a significant policy shift, which not only enables refugees to be self-reliant and improve their quality of life but also brings long-term positive impacts to Thailand’s economy and society.

Myanmar Response Network commends this important step by the Thai government, which reflects a strong commitment to economic, social, and humanitarian principles, and marks the beginning of an approach that balances domestic problem-solving with the expression of empathy for fellow human beings.

At the same time, MRN emphasizes the need for relevant stakeholders to prepare for effective implementation of this policy, including establishing safe legal status, setting labor quotas, ensuring efficient registration systems, providing protection in education and health, and fostering community understanding. Additionally, mechanisms should be developed to accommodate newly arrived skilled refugees, such as doctors, nurses, engineers, and teachers, so they can work according to their expertise.

This policy and MRN’s accompanying recommendations not only benefit refugees and all relevant stakeholders but may also serve as a regional model for sustainable refugee management, even amidst budgetary constraints and complex circumstances.