Needs, Challenges, and Risk Assessment of Myanmar Migrant Workers in Ranong and Tak Provinces, Thailand

List of Key Chapter Titles

1. Background and Research Overview
2. Migrant Demographics and Characteristics
3. Overview of Main Challenges: Overall and Gender Perspectives
4. Challenge One: Difficulties in Obtaining or Renewing Residence and Work Permits in Thailand
5. Challenge Two: Insufficient Income to Meet Basic Needs and Heavy Debt Burden
6. Challenge Three: Difficulty Finding Stable Employment
7. Wages, Piece-Rate Pay, and Payment Frequency
8. Debt Status and Sources
9. Working Hours, Overtime, and Social Protection
10. Social Security Fund and Health Insurance Coverage
11. Solution Proposals from Migrant Workers

Document Introduction

This report, published by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in July 2025, aims to systematically assess the multifaceted needs, challenges, and risks faced by Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand's border provinces of Ranong and Tak. The research context is rooted in the ongoing conflict and economic instability in Myanmar following the military takeover in February 2021, leading to a large influx of Myanmar nationals into Thailand. As of December 2023, an estimated 4.1 million Myanmar nationals reside in Thailand, of which 2.3 million are registered migrant workers, primarily engaged in foundational occupations, playing a significant role in Thailand's socio-economic development. This brief aims to support the private sector (including Thai employers and multinational corporations with suppliers in Thailand) in conducting migrant-centered human rights due diligence by enhancing insights into their risks and taking action to mitigate them.

The assessment employed a community-based approach, with data collection conducted by IOM enumerators in Myanmar migrant communities in Ranong and Tak provinces in April 2025, surveying a total of 536 Myanmar migrant workers. The report's information is indicative, covering multiple dimensions such as migrant workers' backgrounds, employment status, main challenges, and social protection. Data shows that respondents were primarily employed in manufacturing, food production, and construction, with most being full-time workers. The distribution of migration periods shows that 41% arrived between 2016-2020, and 34% arrived between 2021-2024, reflecting the continuation of recent migration flows. The main motivation for migration was a lack of employment or livelihood means (80%), while among those who migrated after 2021, fear of Myanmar's conscription system (19%) also became a significant factor.

The report reveals three core challenges faced by migrant workers. The primary challenge is the difficulty in obtaining or renewing residence and work permits in Thailand (33% overall), involving complex procedures, high costs (median of 11,000 THB), fear of Myanmar authorities, and information access barriers, resulting in 87% of workers being in a regular status and 13% in an irregular status. The second major challenge is insufficient income to meet basic needs and a heavy debt burden (24% overall), with 62% of respondents reporting inadequate wages, 66% carrying debt, median debt reaching 16,000 THB (exceeding one month's minimum wage), with lenders being the main creditors (70%). The third major challenge is the difficulty in finding stable employment (14% overall). These challenges show slight variations between male and female workers but are structurally similar.

The report further delves into an analysis of wages and working conditions. Despite legal minimum daily wages (Ranong 347 THB, Tak 352 THB), 45% of respondents earned below this standard, particularly prevalent in manufacturing (52%) and agriculture (50%). 39% of workers were paid on a piece-rate basis, of which more than half (56%) earned below the minimum wage. Regarding working hours, 60% of workers worked more than 8 hours per day, 42% of male workers in manufacturing worked 7 days a week, and 10% of workers reported unpaid overtime. At the social protection level, disparities were significant: 45% of workers did not receive any employment benefits, 91% of irregular status migrant workers lacked health insurance, and even among regular status workers, 17% lacked health insurance, with this proportion being higher in the agricultural sector.

Finally, the report includes suggestions proposed by the migrant workers themselves to mitigate challenges. Regarding documentation issues, they hope employers will assist with paperwork, provide information in migrant languages, and that the government will simplify procedures and reduce costs. Regarding income and debt issues, suggestions include increasing wages, providing more overtime opportunities, and offering low-interest micro-loans. For employment instability, solutions similarly proposed increasing wages and providing low-interest loans. These first-hand suggestions provide policymakers and business practitioners with action directions directly from the affected groups.

Based on field data from specific provinces, this assessment provides a detailed cross-section for understanding the living conditions of Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand. Its findings hold significant reference value for businesses involved in Thai supply chains for risk assessment, fulfilling human rights due diligence obligations, and designing more inclusive labor policies.