The cabinet on Tuesday approved the extension of the work permits of migrants from three countries for two years.

Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said the extension was for Lao, Cambodian and Myanmar migrant workers who had entered the country under the memorandums of understanding on labour and whose four-year employment contracts were set to expire this year.

Their work permits and visas would be extended for up to two years so that they would not have to leave the country while the Covid-19 situation was making travel difficult. The extension would also meet the needs of employers, Mr Thanakorn said.

The spokesman said the employment contracts of 106,580 migrant workers from Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar would expire this year. It would affect 26,840 Cambodians, 25,504 Laotians and 54,236 Myanmar workers. Their home countries agreed with the work permit extension.