Thai PBS Verify identified the source of the fake news from: Facebook
Post Claims “Treenuch,” Minister of Labour, told Cambodian workers not to return to their country on February 13, 2026.
Thai PBS Verify found that a Facebook user named Tussada Kuttawong posted a status with the following caption:
…Cambodian workers rejoice…
…there will be no deportation of migrant workers anymore…
…because of this female minister…
#CambodianWorkersRejoice
#NoDeportation
#Minister
#BoostTheFeed
The image used in the post shows Ms. Treenuch Thienthong, Minister of Labour, along with text stating:
Backlash and criticism spark!
The “Minister of Labour” announced
“Cambodian workers can continue working.”
No Cambodian workers must return to their country on February 13, 2026.
The post was published on January 10, 2026, in a Facebook group called “TOP NEWS THAILAND Fans,” where it received 60 reactions and 70 comments.
Must Cambodian workers return to their country?
Thai PBS Verify examined the publication using the Google Lens reverse image search tool, and found that the image matches a press conference by Ms. Treenuch, which took place on December 24, 2025, regarding migrant workers in Thailand who would be required to return to their home countries on February 13, 2026.
Screenshot showing a Facebook user’s post (top) compared with an image from a press conference by Ms. Treenuch Thienthong, Minister of Labour, December 24, 2026 (bottom).
What did the Minister actually say?
According to reports by Thai PBS, Ms. Treenuch addressed a rumor originating from news outlets: the latter had claimed that Cambodian workers working in Thailand must return to their country on February 13, 2026 due to the non-renewal of their work permits.
The Ministry of Labour clarified that this was a misunderstanding, as only migrant workers of Lao and Vietnamese nationality would be authorized to work until February 13, 2026, in accordance with the Cabinet resolution on February 4, 2025.
However, another Cabinet resolution on December 2, 2025 granted a deferral, allowing these foreign workers to stay in the Kingdom and continue working for an additional year, until February 13, 2027.
News image from Thai PBS showing Ms. Treenuch Thienthong’s press conference on Dec. 24, 2025 about migrant workers’ return deadline of Feb. 13, 2026.
Meanwhile, regarding foreign nationals of Cambodian nationality, those who are in an irregular or undocumented status are permitted to work until March 31, 2026, thanks to the Cabinet resolution on September 24, 2024,
As for Cambodian nationals who have already renewed their work permits (whose original permits expired on February 13, 2025), they are allowed to remain in the Kingdom and continue working until February 13, 2027, as the Cabinet approved on September 24, 2024, and February 4, 2025. These workers may renew their permits one more time, for a period not exceeding two years, until February 13, 2029.
Therefore, there is no group of Cambodian workers whose work permits expire on February 13, 2026.
What is the truth?
The alleged deadline does not apply to Cambodian workers. Originally, the group whose work permits set to expire on February 13, 2026 were Lao and Vietnamese nationals (under the Cabinet resolution on February 4, 2025). Nevertheless, the Cabinet later passed a resolution on December 2, 2025, granting them a one-year extension period to work until February 13, 2027.
Status of Cambodian workers
For Cambodian workers, there has never been any group scheduled to have permits expire on February 13, 2026, because:
- Workers who have renewed their permits are allowed to remain and work until February 13, 2027, and may extend their permits up to 2029.
- Workers with irregular status are permitted to work until March 31, 2026 (under the Cabinet resolution dated September 24, 2024).
