Thailand and Malaysia: Powered by migrants

Around a fifth of the workforce in both come from abroad.

That’s much more than in most high income countries - and these workers are key to powering growth and economic development.

However as we hear, life can be incredibly difficult for migrant workers in South East Asia.

Produced and presented by Ed Butler

(Image: A Myanmar migrant worker harvests chilies on the bank of the Moei River, which separates Thailand and Myanmar in July 2025. Credit: Getty Images)