Thailand has taken a significant step towards addressing its growing refugee crisis by announcing a new policy that will allow over 87,000 refugees living in nine camps along its border with Myanmar to work and support themselves. The move comes as foreign aid budgets, including those from the US, have begun to dwindle, forcing Thailand to reconsider its approach to supporting the refugees.
The decision has been hailed as "a turning point" by Tammi Sharpe, representative of the UN refugee agency, who said that it will enable refugees to "support themselves and their families, stimulate local economies through increased consumption, and promote job creation, contributing to national GDP growth and economic resilience." The policy change is expected to have a positive impact on both the refugees and the Thai economy.
The decision has been welcomed by the refugee communities themselves, who are eager to leave behind the confines of the camps and start a new life. Bway Say, a Burmese refugee, expressed his gratitude for the new opportunity, saying that "refugees need to stand on their own feet because in the camp there is not enough for all... There is only enough for the most vulnerable people."
However, the process of integrating refugees into the workforce will not be easy. Many have limited knowledge of Thai and few speak the language, making it daunting for them to find employment. Akekasit Subannapong, advocacy coordinator for the Committee for Coordination of Services to Displaced Persons in Thailand, emphasized that "camp residents will need support to integrate into Thai society, to know how the norms, the laws and how society works."
To address these challenges, the Thai government has committed to providing refugees with identification documents, access to banking services, and training programs to help them acquire new skills. The UNHCR is working closely with the World Bank to collect economic data on the impact of refugees' integration into the workforce, with the aim of potentially opening up opportunities for refugees living outside the camps.
The decision is seen as a regional precedent and could set a new standard for how countries manage displaced populations. As Tammi Sharpe noted, "we're really hoping that we move from a situation of aid dependency for decades into self-reliance."
The decision has been hailed as "a turning point" by Tammi Sharpe, representative of the UN refugee agency, who said that it will enable refugees to "support themselves and their families, stimulate local economies through increased consumption, and promote job creation, contributing to national GDP growth and economic resilience." The policy change is expected to have a positive impact on both the refugees and the Thai economy.
The decision has been welcomed by the refugee communities themselves, who are eager to leave behind the confines of the camps and start a new life. Bway Say, a Burmese refugee, expressed his gratitude for the new opportunity, saying that "refugees need to stand on their own feet because in the camp there is not enough for all... There is only enough for the most vulnerable people."
However, the process of integrating refugees into the workforce will not be easy. Many have limited knowledge of Thai and few speak the language, making it daunting for them to find employment. Akekasit Subannapong, advocacy coordinator for the Committee for Coordination of Services to Displaced Persons in Thailand, emphasized that "camp residents will need support to integrate into Thai society, to know how the norms, the laws and how society works."
To address these challenges, the Thai government has committed to providing refugees with identification documents, access to banking services, and training programs to help them acquire new skills. The UNHCR is working closely with the World Bank to collect economic data on the impact of refugees' integration into the workforce, with the aim of potentially opening up opportunities for refugees living outside the camps.
The decision is seen as a regional precedent and could set a new standard for how countries manage displaced populations. As Tammi Sharpe noted, "we're really hoping that we move from a situation of aid dependency for decades into self-reliance."
this policy shift in Thailand is a step in the right direction 
, but it's also kinda worrying 
... i mean, 87k refugees getting the chance to work is awesome 
, but what about those who don't speak Thai or have no connections? 
it's gonna be tough for them to find a job and start from scratch 
. and what about the Thai economy? will it really benefit from all these new workers or just get clogged up with more competition 
? still, kudos to Thailand for taking action 
and the UN for backing this initiative 
The stats are mind-blowing - 87k people getting the chance to work, support themselves, and contribute to the local economy? That's some serious economic growth right there! 
And the UNHCR & World Bank are all like, "Hey, let's track the economic impact of this" - I'm here for it! 
. but the fact remains that many of these people have limited knowledge of thai and will face challenges integrating into society 
.
. if done correctly, it could help these individuals become self-reliant and contribute to their host economies 
Like, finally some country is taking responsibility for its own people instead of just throwing money at them. The Thai gov't is stepping up and giving these refugees a chance to support themselves and their families - it's so inspiring!
. But now they get to start anew with ID docs, banking services, and training programs... it's like a whole new world opens up! 
Of course, integrating into Thai society won't be easy, but I'm sure they'll learn and adapt.
I'm loving this new policy in Thailand, it's like they're taking a huge step towards helping these refugees become more independent 
. They're gonna need some serious support and training to get them settled in Thai society 
. Still, I'm all for giving them a chance to prove themselves and become self-sufficient 
.
. The fact that the UNHCR and World Bank are working together to collect data on the impact of this policy is super interesting too 
. It's all about creating a more sustainable future for these displaced populations 
.
think about all those fresh skills and labor coming in, it's like a boost of energy 
.
.
plus who knows maybe this will be the start of something bigger where refugees from all over asia can come and work in thailand and bring their skills and talents to the table 