Learning from the pandemic: how to better integrate migrant workers in disaster risk reduction in Thailand

The document examines the heightened vulnerability of Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand during the Covid-19 pandemic and previous disasters, such as the 2004 tsunami and 2011 floods. It identifies root causes of this vulnerability, including discriminatory labour laws, precarious living conditions, and limited social protection. While the pandemic saw some pragmatic, inclusive measures—such as universal health access and visa amnesties—the brief argues that these should be institutionalized. It recommends a human-rights-based, multi-hazard approach to DRR that involves migrants in hazard mapping, provides multilingual communication, and streamlines social security access to build broader societal resilience.

• Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand face systemic vulnerabilities that exacerbate their risk during disasters, rooted in precarious employment, poor living conditions, and legal exclusions from social protections.
• The Covid-19 pandemic demonstrated that inclusive, pragmatic measures can protect both migrants and the general population, though these were often hindered by xenophobia and bureaucratic barriers.
• Thailand's existing disaster planning, specifically the 2015 Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Plan, fails to address the day-to-day systemic issues that amplify migrant vulnerability during crises.
• Effective disaster risk reduction requires a multi-hazard approach that accounts for concurrent or cascading disasters and involves cross-sectoral collaboration.
• Migrants should be actively included in the DRR cycle, including hazard mapping and the design of communication strategies, to ensure warnings are accessible and risk perceptions are accurately captured.
• To reduce long-term vulnerability, the Thai government must improve labour-migration policies, ensure compliance with international non-discrimination laws, and systematize visa extensions during disasters.

APA

Pross, C., Hocquet, R., & Torre, A. R. (n.d.). Learning from the pandemic: how to better integrate migrant workers in disaster risk reduction in Thailand. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/sif-policy-brief-eng-final.pdf

Chicago

Pross, Camille, Robin Hocquet, and Andreea R. Torre. Learning from the pandemic: how to better integrate migrant workers in disaster risk reduction in Thailand. Stockholm Environment Institute, n.d. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/sif-policy-brief-eng-final.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Pross |first1=Camille |last2=Hocquet |first2=Robin |last3=Torre |first3=Andreea R. |title=Learning from the pandemic: how to better integrate migrant workers in disaster risk reduction in Thailand |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/sif-policy-brief-eng-final.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{prossndlearning, author = {Pross, Camille and Hocquet, Robin and Torre, Andreea R.}, title = {{Learning from the pandemic: how to better integrate migrant workers in disaster risk reduction in Thailand}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/sif-policy-brief-eng-final.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }