Procedures and Timeline for MOU with

Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos

• Submit a request for employment or recruitment of migrant workers based on the required nationality (Demand). Relevant documents can be downloaded via this link: Department of Employment. The signed documents from the employer or the corporate seal, if a legal entity (as per the Department of Business Development’s requirements) must be submitted to the local employment office or the Department of Employment in Din Daeng, Bangkok. The approval process takes approximately seven days.

• Once the Demand request is approved, it must be sent to the origin country (Myanmar, Laos, or Cambodia) for verification. In this step, the employer or business owner must sign the request at the embassy of the respective country in Thailand.

• Upon receiving confirmation of the Demand, the employer submits the documents to the origin country to begin the selection process for qualified migrant workers. The employer or business owner may participate in the selection process.

• After selecting the appropriate workers, a Name List must be prepared in the source country. This list must be verified by the embassy, and a copy of the Name List should be attached to the request or Form B.T.31 (downloadable here). Additionally, documents related to health insurance for migrant workers (costing 990 Baht) should be included.

• To obtain a Work Permit for the migrant workers, which is valid for two years and can be extended for another two years under Department of Employment regulations, the receipt and relevant documents must be submitted to request a visa for the migrant workers.
  Examples of Calling Visa Documents
  • Example Calling Visa Document 1
  • Example Calling Visa Document 2
  • Example Calling Visa Document 3

All documents must be submitted to the relevant authorities at border locations, such as the provincial governor’s office, immigration police, or other related agencies.

**Processing Time:
The entire process takes approximately 45-60 business days (starting from the submission of the Demand to the employment office), depending on the local authorities and holidays in each country. However, in any case, the process must not exceed 80 days as per regulations. 

What Employers Should Do When a Migrant

Worker Leaves Employment

Migrant workers have the right to change employers under Thai law, and the MOU system ensures equal rights for migrant workers. A migrant worker may change employers under the following conditions:

• Employer terminates the contract or passes away.

• Employer mistreats or abuses the worker.

• Employer fails to pay wages as agreed or does not comply with labour laws.

• Employer goes bankrupt or reduces production, resulting in insufficient work for the worker.

• Work environment poses risks to the worker’s health or safety.

** Reporting Employer Violations
If the employer commits an offence, the migrant worker must gather evidence, report it to the registrar, and find a new employer within 30 days. The worker can only work with the new employer for the remaining duration of their original contract under the MOU system.

** Employer’s Responsibility When a Worker Leaves
The employer must report the termination of employment within 15 days of the worker leaving. If the employer fails to report within this timeframe, they will face penalties.

** Where to Report
The employer must notify the provincial employment office or the Bangkok Metropolitan Employment Office (Areas 1-10), depending on the location of the business where the migrant worker was employed.

** Failure to Report Penalties:
Employers who fail to report a worker’s departure within 15 days may face a fine of up to 20,000 Baht.

Required Documents for Reporting Worker Termination:

To be submitted to the Employment Office:

• Notification of work permit cancellation, signed by the employer (two copies).
• Original work permit (If the worker cannot be contacted, a copy of the work permit should be attached, if available).
• Copy of the establishment registration certificate (e.g., company registration certificate, issued within the last six months; school establishment licence; or foundation registration certificate).
• Copy of the employer’s ID card (if the employer is Thai) or copy of the employer’s work permit (if the employer is a foreign national).
• Letter of authorisation from the employer, with 10 Baht stamp duty, along with a copy of the authorised representative’s ID card (if the employer is not submitting the report personally).

Download related documents for migrant workers here:
Department of Employment.