Myanmar refugees living in camps along the Thailand-Myanmar border have begun to gain new opportunities for legal employment and greater mobility after Thailand started issuing non-citizen identity cards earlier this year. This policy shift marks a significant development for tens of thousands of displaced people who have long faced restrictions on movement and work.

Since June 2026, Myanmar refugees residing in nine temporary camps near the border, including the largest, Mae La camp, have been granted these “pink cards,” which allow holders to seek permission to work legally in Thailand. According to the Thai interior ministry, approximately 4,600 refugees have applied for such work permits between October 2025 and July 2026. This number represents a portion of the estimated 80,000 Myanmar refugees registered in these camps, according to United Nations data.

The move comes amid ongoing conflict in Myanmar following the military coup in 2021, which has driven increased numbers to seek refuge in Thailand. The issuance of identity cards and accompanying work rights is seen as a step away from the statelessness that many refugees face, providing them with legal recognition and a degree of stability previously unavailable.

Refugees who have received these cards express a renewed sense of hope and determination. For example, Ney La Jaw, 25, who lived most of his life in Mae La camp, now works on a farm in Nakhon Sawan province, about 200 kilometers from the border, earning roughly 3,000 baht (approximately RM364) per week. He sends most of his income to family members remaining in the camps. Others, like Gay Lah, who arrived at a camp as a child, say the card allows them freedom of movement and the ability to plan for the future, including saving money and eventually bringing their families out of the camps.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has welcomed the policy, describing it as a “landmark step towards inclusion, protection and self-reliance” for a population long regarded as one of the world’s most protracted refugee groups. The agency noted that while Thailand historically does not formally recognize refugees or grant asylum, the government’s recent moves to legalize work for longstanding refugees have already seen more than 5,500 people enter the Thai workforce since October 2025.

Human rights advocates also view the change positively. Phil Robertson, director of Asia Human Rights and Labour Advocates, called the initiative “a huge step forward” and “long overdue,” emphasizing that the identification cards provide access not only to work but also to health and other social services, along with greater freedom of movement.

Employers in Thailand’s agricultural sector have welcomed the new workforce availability, particularly as border tensions with Cambodia have resulted in the return of many Cambodian migrant workers. However, some employers note differences between Cambodian and Myanmar workers. For instance, Manas Lohsuwan, a farm owner in Nakhon Sawan, acknowledged that while Cambodian workers may have more skills and experience, Myanmar refugees are less expensive to employ. These refugees are required to work for the same employer, which means that if they leave a job, they must return to the camps and await re-recruitment.

For many refugees like Ko Ko Oo, born and raised in a Thailand refugee camp, the ID card offers more than just a chance to earn income; it provides peace of mind. With the card, he no longer needs to conceal his status when officials conduct workplace inspections, reflecting a reduction in the fear and uncertainty that has characterized refugees’ lives for decades.