A Thai government spokesperson said of the new refugee work authorization announcement: “This will … ease the government’s financial burden, strengthen the country’s economic development, promote human rights, and address labor shortages.”

Date: 1/26

Region: East Asia & Pacific

Country: Thailand

Topic: Refugees & Displacement, Economy & Livelihoods

Policy Lens: Migration & Mobility

Entry Type: Field Observation

Additional Context: This information was collected as part of The Aid Report’s original reporting, “From camps to crops: US aid cuts reshape refugee life in Thailand.” The feature story examined how a small number of Burmese refugees are now working legally in Thailand, and how U.S. aid cuts may have played a part in triggering the policy shift.

The government described the policy as a pragmatic response to overlapping crises. According to The Aid Report's reporting, the landmark decision was in part triggered by cuts to foreign aid budgets, as well as the national labor shortage.

Source: Devex