Thailand migrant workers lose legal status amid new permit hurdles

[snoop1130]

 

Employers and migrant workers are expressing significant frustration over new registration and work permit renewal requirements in Thailand, which have led to many migrant workers losing their legal status. These requirements, introduced recently, have been criticised for their complexity and the obstacles they pose to both employers and employees.

 

Nilubol Pongpayom, a representative from the employer group Nai Chang Si Khao (White Employers), highlighted the issue yesterday, November 7, noting that they had previously petitioned the government through the Prime Minister’s Office.

 

The request was for a revision of the requirements to facilitate a more straightforward process for migrant registration and work permit renewal. Yet, no response has been received, resulting in hundreds of thousands of migrant labourers missing the October 31 deadline, consequently becoming illegal workers.

 

The crux of the problem appears to be the Certificate of Identity (CI), an additional document now required for migrant worker registration. This certificate is a prerequisite before applying for a work permit renewal. Nilubol described the process as overly complicated, exacerbated by the fact there are only seven CI centres across the nation.

 

Reports have surfaced of alleged poor supervision at these centres, leading to unfair treatment of both migrant workers and their employers. The CI centre in Samut Prakan, for instance, has been accused of demanding a CI fee ranging from 3,800 to 4,000 baht without providing proper receipts.

 

“The process was rather complicated and involved multiple fees.”

 

With only seven CI centres available, many migrant workers are forced to travel considerable distances to comply with the requirements. This logistical challenge adds another layer of difficulty for those trying to maintain their legal status.

 

Workers whose permits are set to expire on February 13 face additional hurdles, as they will need to return to their home countries to start the registration process anew before they can resume work in Thailand.

 

Workers testimonies

 

A 30 year old worker from Myanmar, who preferred to remain anonymous, shared her story of working legally for a large company in Samut Sakhon and consistently paying taxes. The new CI requirement’s complexity caused her to miss the October 1 deadline, rendering her an illegal migrant worker.

 

“I have been living and working here, paid all my taxes and have social security. But this complicated process made me miss the deadline and lose my legal status.”

 

Another migrant worker, a 28 year old man also from Myanmar, whose permit is due to expire on February 13, voiced his reluctance to return to Myanmar. He expressed concerns about inadvertently supporting the ruling junta through taxes if he returned.

 

The situation underscores the urgent need for a more simplified and accessible process to ensure that migrant workers can maintain their legal status and continue contributing to the Thai economy, reported Bangkok Post.

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Photo courtesy of Associated Press

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2024-11-08

 

 

[JoePai]

Crazy, Thailand needs these people

[Puccini]

4 hours ago, JoePai said:

Crazy, Thailand needs these people

 

Thailand needs foreign workers from Myanmar, Laos, Kampuchea, etc.

 

Thailand sends workers abroad, for example to Israel

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2895832/thailand-to-send-800-workers-to-israel-despite-conflict

and to others countries in the Middle East, Finland, etc

[Srikcir]

A stab in the back for human rights. Thailand's (alleged) Human Rights Commission's recent accreditation with the UNHRC should immediately be withdrawn. 

[jcmj]

It makes no sense to make it difficult for those trying to do the right thing and register. We need these workers. Many companies don’t want to go through the hassle, or even register their employees and now the poor people lose their jobs and are sent packing to start the process over. Employers need to be held responsible and accountable for their workers. If they don’t start fining them big time then this will never stop. 

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Employers and migrant workers are expressing significant frustration over new registration and work permit renewal requirements in Thailand, which have led to many migrant workers losing their legal status. These requirements, introduced recently, have been criticised for their complexity and the obstacles they pose to both employers and employees

The Thai way.... don't make it easy.

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The CI centre in Samut Prakan, for instance, has been accused of demanding a CI fee ranging from 3,800 to 4,000 baht without providing proper receipts.

 

“The process was rather complicated and involved multiple fees.”

Corruption again... 

[nobodysfriend]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

These requirements, introduced recently, have been criticised for their complexity and the obstacles they pose to both employers and employees.

 

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

the problem appears to be the Certificate of Identity (CI), an additional document now required

 

Some people who work for the government seem to have nothing else to do but finding ways to make life more difficult .

What worked good for many years , suddenly needs to be changed for something new and more difficult .

A good government should focus on facilitating life for it's people , not on putting up new hurdles that make people suffer . Thailand needs it's migrant workers , many jobs , Khon Thai mai dai ...

[JimHuaHin]

15 hours ago, JoePai said:

Crazy, Thailand needs these people

 Why does Thailand need "these people"?

 

So Thailand can become more global and multicultural?

 

These people enrich Thai culture?

 

Or is it because they generally do work that most Thais do not want to do, at a wage which is generally significantly less than the legal minimum wage, thereby making the employers richer?

[JoePai]

19 minutes ago, JimHuaHin said:

 

 

Or is it because they generally do work that most Thais do not want to do, at a wage which is generally significantly less than the legal minimum wage, thereby making the employers richer?

Correct - next question ?

[Sydebolle]

All this rannygazoo serves only one purpose; to make those behind the desks collecting possibly billions of Baht in a year in all those agencies. That money then goes nicely distributed from top to bottom - an endless flow from the horn of plenty. 

I will no longer be around but it will be interesting to see, how Thailand will fall into the 3rd world status again in a generation or two. See the Philippines, 40+ years ago they were way ahead of Thailand but the people's greed, endless corruption and blunt disregard to existing laws resulted in the destruction. 

Thailand's government agencies would be here to serve its people; the opposite is happening and Thailand's worst enemy is its very own greedy, lying and cheating people. Their country - their call; their grandchildren will damn their forefathers to death one day! 

[john donson]

at least they can work... how many jobs forbidden for us... or how difficult ...do they also need 4 thais for every myanmar, cambodian?

[black tabby12345]

This is What Pheu Thai Government really  is.

Some handout  to the poor to Buy Their Votes.

But no real concern for the Better  Being of the Whole Nation.

They are no better than any ruling parties in the past in real term.

Their Top Priority is always to  create the new source  of Easy Billions for the 0.1% of the kingdom, at the  Expense of the Less Fortunate or those who can't Retaliate them by Vote.

 

No wonder they always got Non-Stop Internal Feuds; each of them simply trying to maximize own gain.