By People’s Party (PP) leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut has condemned an attack on a migrant workers’ protest leader and called for sweeping reforms to Thailand’s migrant labour management, according to the Bangkok Post. The assault occurred on Sunday 2 November 2026, when Veera Saengthong, a leader of the Bright Future migrant workers’ group, was attacked outside the United Nations office on Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue. Video footage showed a group accusing Veera of causing unrest in Thailand before police intervened.
The protest was demanding the abolition of Certificate of Identity (CI) centres. Natthaphong said migrant workers were essential to Thailand’s economy, but registration loopholes and corruption involving officials were placing unnecessary burdens on workers and employers. “As long as we believe in the rule of law and a democratic system, physical violence, regardless of differences in opinion, is unacceptable,” he said.
Why CI centres have become a flashpoint
The Certificate of Identity system is the formal route through which migrant workers from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos regularise their status in Thailand. The protest outside the UN office focused on CI centres because they have become a bottleneck for hundreds of thousands of workers. According to the Bangkok Post, around 700,000 workers still needed to complete CI registration, while more than one million faced expiring passports.
The costs have risen sharply. Passport-related fees for Myanmar workers increased from 310 baht to 2,670 baht, partly because Myanmar authorities imposed additional taxes. Brokers at CI centres allegedly demanded unofficial payments of 1,350 to 1,500 baht. Workers also faced an additional 2 percent income levy, equivalent to about 6,000 baht per person, which the PP says purportedly benefits Myanmar’s military government. These layered costs explain why employers and workers have pushed for the centres to be brought under Thai supervision or abolished altogether.
What the People’s Party has proposed
The PP’s shadow cabinet has put forward a package of measures that goes beyond condemning the attack. The party wants Thailand to challenge Myanmar’s 2 percent income tax under international law and the 2002 bilateral double taxation agreement between the two countries. It has also called for temporarily easing identity-document requirements, reviewing Thailand’s diplomatic approach towards Myanmar, and taking stronger action on cross-border shelling, narcotics and river pollution linked to Myanmar’s prolonged conflict.
On the domestic front, Natthaphong called for a comprehensive migrant worker database, a review of occupations reserved for Thai nationals, and better integration measures including Thai-language training. PP MP Sahassawat Kumkong urged the Labour Ministry to bring CI centres under Thai supervision and consider abolishing them altogether, alongside amendments to immigration and migrant labour laws. Shadow foreign minister Pisan Manawapat accused the government of being overly accommodating towards Myanmar’s military leadership.
What this means for HR and payroll teams
For employers in Thailand, the CI centre dispute is not a distant political issue. Companies in manufacturing, agriculture, construction, food processing and domestic work rely heavily on migrant labour, and registration delays directly affect workforce availability. When workers cannot complete CI registration or renew passports, employers face the risk of employing undocumented workers, which carries legal penalties under Thai immigration and labour law.
Payroll teams should track the status of each migrant worker’s documents carefully. The 2 percent income levy and broker fees are often deducted from wages or passed through payroll, creating compliance and reputational risks if the deductions are later found to be unlawful or linked to Myanmar’s military government. Employers should document all deductions and confirm that any third-party fees charged to workers are lawful under Thai labour law. The PP’s proposal to challenge the 2 percent levy under the double taxation agreement could eventually change what employers are expected to withhold or remit, but no change has been announced.
| Cost item | Reported amount | Who receives it |
|---|---|---|
| Passport-related fees | 2,670 baht (up from 310 baht) | Myanmar authorities, including additional taxes |
| Broker payments at CI centres | 1,350 to 1,500 baht | Allegedly unofficial payments to brokers |
| Income levy | 2 percent, about 6,000 baht per person | Purportedly Myanmar’s military government |
Practical steps employers can take now
The Bangkok Post report does not state specific next steps by the Thai government, so employers should not assume the CI centres will close or that fees will fall. Instead, HR teams should audit their migrant workforce now. Identify which workers need CI registration or passport renewal, and map the timeline for each case. The figure of 700,000 workers still needing CI registration suggests delays are widespread, so early action may reduce exposure to processing backlogs.
Employers should also review how recruitment agents and brokers are paid. If workers are being charged unofficial fees, the employer may be able to negotiate alternative arrangements or absorb some costs to reduce worker turnover and legal risk. Thai labour law sets rules on what can be deducted from wages, and employers should confirm their own practices with a qualified Thai labour lawyer or the Labour Ministry.
The call for a comprehensive migrant worker database and a review of reserved occupations could lead to longer-term changes in how employers recruit and register workers. HR teams should monitor announcements from the Labour Ministry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, particularly if Thailand adjusts its diplomatic approach towards Myanmar. Any shift in bilateral relations could affect passport issuance, CI centre operations and the fees workers face.
The attack on Veera Saengthong has drawn attention to tensions that have been building for months. For employers, the immediate priority is compliance and workforce stability. For policymakers, the pressure is now on to decide whether the CI centre system can be fixed or should be replaced.
Sources: Bangkok Post
Photo: Jed migrant workers by Yousefmadari at ml.wikipedia, Public domain
