Illegal workers in South Korea: Amnesty for Thai nationals

[webfact]

 

The Labour Ministry of Thailand has approached the South Korean government to consider granting amnesty to around 150,000 Thai workers currently residing and working unlawfully in South Korea. The plea was made yesterday by Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.

 

Phiphat met with his South Korean counterpart, Lee Jeong-sik, in Seoul on Wednesday, March 13, to examine the predicament.

 

According to Phiphat, approximately 7,000 Thai nationals, who were working unlawfully in South Korea, were sent back home last year. However, the remaining count of Thai workers still tops among all foreign nationals working illegally in South Korea.

 

Most of these workers, Phiphat explains, initially migrated to South Korea through legal channels but became illegal workers when they switched employers. Phiphat proposed amnesty to Lee, explaining that the majority of these workers have been in the country for at least three to four years and have developed crucial skills, including proficiency in the Korean language. He requested assistance in securing legal work permits for these individuals.

The Thai labour minister also suggested that the Korean authorities could conduct skills tests before the grant of such permits. However, he confessed that the chance of such an amnesty being granted is minimal.

Lee reportedly expressed concerns about the proposal and promised to discuss the issue with the Justice Ministry and Immigration Bureau of South Korea. Additionally, the two ministers discussed the possibility of bringing in Thai workers on E7, E8, and E9 visas.

 

Phiphat stated that the South Korean government appreciates the quality of Thai workers but recommended that they improve their language skills to enhance their communication with their employers. Further discussions were held regarding the possibility of sending more Thai workers to work in South Korea’s agriculture and fishery industries.

 

The Bhumjaithai MP also revealed that four memorandums of understanding were signed during these discussions, reported Bangkok Post.

 

However, in response to rumours that Japan’s visa-free policy for Thai travellers might soon be cancelled due to the spike in illegal Thai workers in Japan, the Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Consular Affairs Department confirmed that it is due to expire next year. Whether Tokyo will extend this policy remains uncertain.

 

Next month, Phiphat will be visiting Japan to discuss these issues further.

 

by Mitch Connor

Photo courtesy of Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn Facebook page

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-03-15

 

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[bob smith]

How about amnesty for foreigners working illegally in Thailand as well then?

 

bob.

[Tropicalevo]

22 minutes ago, bob smith said:

How about amnesty for foreigners working illegally in Thailand as well then?

 

28 minutes ago, webfact said:

the chance of such an amnesty being granted is minimal.

 

 

[ikke1959]

Strangely enough they ask for the Thai, while a witch hunt is going on in Thailand..... 

[hotchilli]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

The Labour Ministry of Thailand has approached the South Korean government to consider granting amnesty to around 150,000 Thai workers currently residing and working unlawfully in South Korea. The plea was made yesterday by Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.

Were they not granted an amnesty period last year?

[sirineou]

18 hours ago, bob smith said:

How about amnesty for foreigners working illegally in Thailand as well then?

 

bob.

Same 

I was reading an article that if birth rates continue as they have , Thailand's  population would in 60 years be half what it is today. Korea has a similar problem, as do many other countries. 

If these countries are to maintain their economic completeness they will need workers from other countries. The sooner they realise that. the better it will be. 

In the US there is an issue in some people minds, with Immigration and illegal immigration.  

Both legal and illegal immigration is is America's super power. 

[jacko45k]

19 hours ago, bob smith said:

How about amnesty for foreigners working illegally in Thailand as well then?

 

bob.

South Korean? You got it!

[Srikcir]

21 hours ago, webfact said:

Most of these workers, Phiphat explains, initially migrated to South Korea through legal channels but became illegal workers when they switched employers.

This indicates as a minimum a South Korea policy addendum or change is needed so that legal foreign workers do not lose their existing legal working status due to change of employers. Amnesty is the wrong (and indicated possibly impossible) approach.

With regard for foreign legal workers (be they Thai or other) in South Korea needing better Korean language skills, why don't Thailand and South Korea work jointly to make additional language skills available, ie., partnership language funding to specified South Korean employers?

[stoner]

shoot and here i thought it was only 100k. 150k is the same size as hat yai.

[nahkit]

5 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Were they not granted an amnesty period last year?

Different type of amnesty.

 

The last one allowed them to return to Thailand without fear of prosecution, this one is asking for them to be granted a legal work permit and be allowed to remain there.

[zhounan]

Just another international lesson to Thailand.

[Mr Meeseeks]

On 3/15/2024 at 12:20 PM, webfact said:

Most of these workers, Phiphat explains, initially migrated to South Korea through legal channels but became illegal workers when they switched employers.

 

Yeh right. 

[john donson]

hypocrisy... we retired are not even to volunteer FOR FREE

[BayArea]

Phiphat claims most came to S. Korea through legal channels which implies the rest arrived illegally.  With that said,  he wants S. Korea to grant amnesty for every Thai across the board.  He's got some nerve. The veracity and hypocrisy in this scandalous regime is mind blowing