Bangkok - Over the last two decades, Thailand’s dependence on migrant workers has grown. From domestic workers to manning factories around Thailand, people traveling to Thailand from Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar and Vietnam have made a huge contribution to Thailand’s economic performance, and in December 2019, just before the first wave of COVID-19, there were 2,788,316 registered migrant workers in the country. 

All migrants, with many undocumented joining the documented group, faced huge challenges during the last two years. This was the topic of the panel discussion at Film Screening and Photo Exhibition event held on 14 December 2021 to mark celebration of the International Migrants Day and 70th Anniversary of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) at Alliance Française Bangkok.  

Migrants felt the effects of factory closures and limited health resources most acutely. Almost all migrants work in environments where work from home policies don’t apply, and for many, their living conditions only intensified the dangers of the virus. More recently, access to vaccines and healthcare due to their legal status also prevented migrants from getting the care they needed. The discussion focused on what needs to be done to overcome similar challenges in the future.  

Panelists included experts who have been working in the field with migrants during the global pandemic: Dr. Somkiat Siriruttanapruk, Senior Advisor in Preventive Medicine (Occupational Health), Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Ms. Phiangjai Boonsuk, National Professional Officer at World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Nyan Win Phyo, Health Technical & Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator at World Vision Foundation of Thailand and Ms. Rina Chandran, Journalist at the Thomson Reuters Foundation.  

The event was a collaboration between IOM and WHO, and also featured a Film Screening and Photo Exhibition, with the aim of raising awareness about the challenges and difficulties faced by people on the move, as well as highlighting their contributions to the community.  

Attendees had the chance to watch Overseas, a short film directed by Wichanon Somumjarn and Anocha Suwichakornpong, and Heartbound, an award-winning documentary movie directed by Janus Metz and Sine Plambech that captured the promise and challenges of migration and the unique contributions that migrants make to their new communities.

Audience goes through the images of migrant workers exhibited at the event. © WHO 2021 / Terapong Taon 

Guests during registration at the event. © WHO 2021 / Terapong Taon