In a bid to address Thailand’s declining birth rates, the research director of inclusive development at the Thailand Research Development Institute (TDRI) has put forward a radical proposal to grant Thai citizenship to migrant workers’ children.

 

With a projected drop of 100,000 births over the next four to five years, attributed to financial constraints and lifestyle choices, Dr Somchai Jitsuchon’s plan could be a game-changer.

 

“Many families are either opting not to have children or limiting themselves to just one due to financial pressures. Traditional government campaigns to encourage more births might not cut it.”

 

Dr Somchai proposes granting Thai citizenship to children born to ethnic minority parents or migrant workers, which is estimated to number around a million. But, it’s not just about paperwork, it’s about ensuring these children have equal access to education, healthcare, and other vital services, fostering a sense of belonging and productivity.

 

Backing this proposal is Sivanut Soithong from the Mirror Foundation, highlighting the real-world hurdles these children face. Despite existing laws offering paths to citizenship, bureaucratic roadblocks often leave them without access to essential services and opportunities, reported Thai PBS World.

 

“These children are caught in a bureaucratic limbo but the National Security Council’s citizenship first approach could be the lifeline they need.”

 

Currently, these children are excluded from official Thai census data and lack proper registration status. Their unique 13-digit ID cards, starting with 0, set them apart from Thai nationals. However, many lack even this basic identification, unable to prove their birth on Thai soil.

 

“While some receive free education up to 9th grade, many are left undocumented and vulnerable.”

 

In related news, Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health is set to introduce strategies designed to encourage artificial insemination and support those who wish to become parents, encompassing the LGBTQ community as well. The drive is part of an initiative to increase the country’s birth rate.

 

By Mitch Connor

Caption: Photo courtesy of Thai PBS World

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-02-29

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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6 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand Research Development Institute (TDRI) has put forward a radical proposal to grant Thai citizenship to migrant workers’ children.

Good for Thailand to be proactive.

Japan, China and Korea should have done this years ago.....

6 minutes ago, flyingtlger said:

Good for Thailand to be proactive.

Japan, China and Korea should have done this years ago.....

Get a flying carpet doctor 

10 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

 

In a bid to address Thailand’s declining birth rates, the research director of inclusive development at the Thailand Research Development Institute (TDRI) has put forward a radical proposal to grant Thai citizenship to migrant workers’ children.

 

With a projected drop of 100,000 births over the next four to five years, attributed to financial constraints and lifestyle choices, Dr Somchai Jitsuchon’s plan could be a game-changer.

 

“Many families are either opting not to have children or limiting themselves to just one due to financial pressures. Traditional government campaigns to encourage more births might not cut it.”

 

Dr Somchai proposes granting Thai citizenship to children born to ethnic minority parents or migrant workers, which is estimated to number around a million. But, it’s not just about paperwork, it’s about ensuring these children have equal access to education, healthcare, and other vital services, fostering a sense of belonging and productivity.

 

Backing this proposal is Sivanut Soithong from the Mirror Foundation, highlighting the real-world hurdles these children face. Despite existing laws offering paths to citizenship, bureaucratic roadblocks often leave them without access to essential services and opportunities, reported Thai PBS World.

 

“These children are caught in a bureaucratic limbo but the National Security Council’s citizenship first approach could be the lifeline they need.”

 

Currently, these children are excluded from official Thai census data and lack proper registration status. Their unique 13-digit ID cards, starting with 0, set them apart from Thai nationals. However, many lack even this basic identification, unable to prove their birth on Thai soil.

 

“While some receive free education up to 9th grade, many are left undocumented and vulnerable.”

 

In related news, Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health is set to introduce strategies designed to encourage artificial insemination and support those who wish to become parents, encompassing the LGBTQ community as well. The drive is part of an initiative to increase the country’s birth rate.

 

By Mitch Connor

Caption: Photo courtesy of Thai PBS World

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-02-29

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

 

..not because of birth rate but equal rights if they were born here. Long time overdue already.👍

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

In a bid to address Thailand’s declining birth rates, the research director of inclusive development at the Thailand Research Development Institute (TDRI) has put forward a radical proposal to grant Thai citizenship to migrant workers’ children.

This is about the funnies thing i have read today. So, some guy in a research institute suddenly thinks.. Hey, we do not need to make our own babies here. We can use immigrant workers babies to show our birth rate has increased. 

26 minutes ago, thesetat said:

This is about the funnies thing i have read today. So, some guy in a research institute suddenly thinks.. Hey, we do not need to make our own babies here. We can use immigrant workers babies to show our birth rate has increased. 

It's called "cooking the books".

32 minutes ago, Muhendis said:

It's called "cooking the books".

Yes, fiddling the figures rather than addressing the issue. Typical!

 

Not that there is an issue in my view: The world needs fewer people, not more.

 

And not that looking after the children of migrant workers is a bad thing - long overdue (like so much else in this country).

because granting automatic residency for expats retired or working, married with kids, would be too much to ask... the yearly paper mountain brings in easy money and FEAR