Phuket Moves to Resolve Work Permit Delays Affecting Thousands of Foreign Workers

Authorities in Phuket are taking steps to address major delays in the issuance and renewal of work permits affecting more than 130,000 foreign workers, after businesses raised concerns about the impact on operations.

The issue was discussed during a monthly labour agency meeting held on March 4 at the Phuket Provincial Labour Office. Phuket Vice Governor Teeraphong Chuaychoo urged officials to act quickly to resolve the growing backlog. Representatives from several key institutions attended, including labour, employment, social security, and skills development agencies.

During the meeting, officials reviewed recent performance and identified coordination challenges, with the backlog in work permit processing emerging as the most pressing problem. According to Phuket Provincial Employment Office Chief Pichit Singthongkam, the delays are linked to a transition in the processing system.

The Department of Employment introduced a nationwide outsourcing model on October 13, 2025, designed to streamline applications through the digital e-WorkPermit platform, supported by more than 40 service centres across the country.

However, in Phuket, the system has struggled to handle the high volume of applications due to the island’s large foreign workforce. The outsourced service provider has not been able to meet demand, leading to processing delays.

Businesses, especially those in the tourism sector, have been significantly affected. Employers report that slow permit renewals are disrupting hiring plans and delaying approvals for new staff.

Data from the Phuket Provincial Employment Office indicates that as of October 2025, there were 138,244 foreign workers in Phuket. Among them, 121,198 were from four neighbouring countries, 16,260 were from other nations, 503 were employed under investment promotion schemes, and 283 were classified as ethnic minority workers.

Vice Governor Teeraphong acknowledged the urgency of the issue and instructed the Employment Office to urgently develop solutions. Authorities plan to hold discussions with employers and relevant agencies to identify practical ways to accelerate processing.

Officials identified the main bottleneck within the production stage of the outsourced system, which currently lacks sufficient capacity. As an interim solution, additional staff have been deployed to the Foreign Work Permit Service Centre in Phuket to assist applicants, track progress, and report updates to central authorities.

They will also monitor the performance of the outsourcing provider to ensure it meets required standards and improves efficiency.