Cabinet moves to reduce punishments for illegal workers and employers

By The Nation

 

File photo: Myanmar workers in Thailand

 

The Cabinet has given the green light to a draft amendment that would lessen tough punishments against illegal workers and their employers.

 

The draft seeks to eliminate jail terms of up to five years against illegal workers. According to the draft, fines against employers of illegal workers will also be reduced from between Bt400,000 and Bt800,000 per illegal worker to between Bt10,000 and Bt100,000.

 

The Foreign Worker Management Act of BE2560, which came into effect last year, prescribes what are widely accepted as harsh penalties. Four of its articles have been suspended since last year in response to concerns from many sides.

 

Government Spokesman Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said that the Cabinet yesterday approved the amendment to the law. In addition to reducing penalties for many offences, the draft amendment has also relaxed some conditions for migrant workers and their employers.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30340320

 

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Big business has been lobbying hard. 

Vested interests?

28 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

he draft seeks to eliminate jail terms of up to five years against illegal workers

Yes, because imprisoning low-level construction workers, etc, for up to five years is stupid. It's a waste of everyone's time and money. 

 

This is what happens when you let a bunch of fusty old men play at being adults making serious decisions. 

Pity they haven't got around to undoing the more serious laws they created to punish Thai protestors. They have maybe only just realized that this law punishes rich people too, and there is always the chance that cheap labour will return home and that will never do.

Too late you thoughtless  T W A T S !!

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

The draft seeks to eliminate jail terms of up to five years against illegal workers. According to the draft, fines against employers of illegal workers will also be reduced from between Bt400,000 and Bt800,000 per illegal worker to between Bt10,000 and Bt100,000.

Ah, good on 'em. A dam fine caring bunch to keep promoting the illegal workforce. Isn't this what human rights were after? 

A day after the PM said they must be prosecuted to full extent of the law?

A few months ago they increased the fine and the local police went on the rampage for a couple of days until public pressure forced this to be put on hold. Now they are reducing the punishment.

 

That's some u-turn! (again!)

Edited March 7, 20188 yr by madmitch

Someones badly need the even cheaper workers...

The whole erratic process... policy making without a brain...

The govt. had to do a u-turn due to pressure from HiSo business owners. The Thais are no longer willing to work for peanuts wages.....

Cha cha cha. One step forward and 3 steps backwards. Big corporations ruled.