Thailand intensifies crackdown on undocumented Myanmar workers

Thailand has detained and deported over 144,000 Myanmar citizens in a crackdown on illegal workers, with the focus on “job seekers” using turmoil in Myanmar as an excuse to seek opportunities in Thailand.

• The crackdown is part of a campaign to round up illegal workers, with migrant workers from Myanmar playing a vital role in the Thai economy.
• Deported individuals face a two-year ban from re-entering Thailand and the risk of being conscripted into the Myanmar army upon their return home.

Many workers from Myanmar play a vital role in Thailand’s economy, but the country is tightening procedures for migrant workers and granting greater authority to the Myanmar junta over their fate. Those deported face a two-year ban from re-entering Thailand and the risk of being conscripted into the Myanmar army. The crackdown has led to concerns about finding reliable replacements for the deported workers.