Summary of the Cabinet Resolution on December 24 2024 on Foreign Workers
- Background and Purpose
- To address the issue of some foreign workers in accordance with the Cabinet Resolution of October 3, 2023, ensuring that they can continue to legally reside and work in Thailand to alleviate the impact of labor shortages on the national economy.
- Key Measures
- No Pink Card Required: Allowing approximately 200,000 foreign workers who have not yet updated their registration history (Pink Card) to temporarily work and reside until February 13, 2025, and be able to renew their permits in accordance with regulations. Resolution of September 24, 2024, No Pink Card Required
- Add 2 steps for newly registered foreigners: They must additionally undergo nationality verification to obtain a passport or document replacing a passport. And check the type of temporary residence visa and stamp it to allow temporary residence in Thailand
- Related Regulations and Advocacy
- Drafting a number of ministerial regulations to clarify the legal residence and working conditions of foreign workers.
- The relevant department (Ministry of Labor) is responsible for disseminating information and interpreting policies to employers, workers and other relevant parties.
Meeting News Cabinet Resolution of December 24 2024
On the resolution of foreigners and the inspection of temporary residence visas and stamping of temporary residence permits in the Kingdom in accordance with the Cabinet Resolution of October 3, 2023.
The Cabinet decided to approve the proposal of the Ministry of Labor on the resolution of foreigners in accordance with the Cabinet Resolution of October 3, 2023, and the inspection of temporary residence visas and stamping of temporary residence permits in Thailand, including the following matters: as follows
- In accordance with the Cabinet Resolution of October 3, 2023, the resolution of foreigners who have completed all steps within the prescribed time but cannot prepare or update the historical register and the relevant draft announcements are:
- In accordance with the Cabinet Resolution of October 3, 2023, the draft announcement of the Ministry of Interior on allowing foreigners, especially foreigners of Cambodian, Laotian, Myanmar and Vietnamese nationalities, to enter the Kingdom, who have completed all steps but cannot complete them. Prepare or update the historical register within the period specified by the Cabinet Resolution on the date
- The Ministry of Labor published a draft on the granting of permission to foreigners to work in the Kingdom, especially for foreigners of Cambodian, Laotian, Myanmar and Vietnamese nationality who have been granted work permits until February 13, 2025 in accordance with the Cabinet Resolution of September 24, 2024
- Guidelines for the inspection of temporary visas and the stamping of temporary residence permits for foreigners who have been granted work permits in accordance with the Cabinet Resolution. And related draft announcements, including the draft announcement of the Ministry of Interior on allowing foreigners to stay in the Kingdom under special circumstances for foreigners of Cambodian, Laotian, Myanmar and Vietnamese nationality, in accordance with the Cabinet Resolution of September 24, 2024
- Provided by the Ministry of Employment. And related institutions to carry out publicity to enhance the awareness and understanding of employers/business operators of foreign workers and that the participants are fully aware of such actions.
The gist of the matter
The matters proposed by the Ministry of Labor are measures to enable aliens to continue working in the Kingdom. This will maintain the domestic workforce to prevent the labor shortage from becoming more severe and affecting the country’s economy, which has the following main points:
- Resolving problems for illegal aliens according to the list that employers have submitted their request to hire workers according to the Cabinet resolution on October 3, 2023, some of which have already proceeded according to the steps specified by the Cabinet resolution. However, there are still approximately 200,000 people who have not been able to complete or update their registration history (pink card) by October 31, 2024, resulting in these groups of aliens having illegal status. Therefore, it is determined that these groups of aliens will be granted an extension to work and temporarily reside in the Kingdom until February 13, 2025.In order to renew the work permit according to the Cabinet resolution on September 24, 2024, the application must be submitted by February 13, 2025 and will be permitted to stay and work in the Kingdom for a period of 2 years and can be renewed for another 2 years, totaling 4 years.
- Solving the problem for illegal aliens according to the Cabinet resolution on September 24, 2024, which sets the guidelines for checking the temporary resident visa and stamping permission to stay in the Kingdom temporarily for aliens who have been granted work permits according to the Cabinet resolution on September 24, 2024, which are groups of aliens with illegal status, i.e., aliens who entered the Kingdom illegally, whose permission to stay and work in the Kingdom has expired, and those who entered the Kingdom legally but worked with employers without permission. When receiving a work permit and collecting personal identities, creating or updating the personal record and issuing an ID card, additional procedures must be performed to verify nationality in order to receive a passport or document to replace a passport, and checking the temporary resident visa and stamping permission to stay in the Kingdom temporarily. By allowing a temporary stay in the Kingdom until March 31, 2026.
If you want convenience and speed in registering or renewing foreign workers, you can use Foreign Worker Registration Service or Foreign Worker Work Permit Renewal Service with a team of professionals ready to provide advice and carry out every step in a comprehensive manner.
