Bangkok: Thousands of Burmese refugees in camps along Thailand's border with Myanmar are hopeful about filling the gap left by Cambodians, who previously constituted a significant portion of Thailand's low-wage workforce. According to Deutsche Welle, in Thailand's Mae La camp, long-standing Burmese refugees who fled the civil war in neighboring Myanmar are optimistic that a new labor program will finally provide them with legal employment opportunities. Deutsche Welle met with families who are facing hunger and hardship, exacerbated by reductions in aid programs such as USAID. For these families, the labor scheme represents a rare opportunity for a better life. Thai officials are aiming to address the challenges in their country's struggling low-wage labor market. This comes after recent conflicts between Thailand and Cambodia led to many Cambodians, who were working in Thailand, leaving their jobs and returning to their homeland. The new labor program for Burmese refugees is seen as a crucial step in stabi lizing the workforce and supporting the refugees' livelihoods.