8,000 Cambodians to work in Thailand under bilateral deal

By The Nation on Sunday

The Cambodian government has approved a plan to send 8,000 Cambodians to work in Thailand under a bilateral agreement.

The first batch of 113 Cambodian workers entered Thailand yesterday in the hope of getting paid a minimum wage of Bt300 per day as promised by the Pheu Thai-led government.

At the checkpoint in front of Sa Kaew's Aranyaprathet border pass yesterday, Thai officials checked the documents of 113 Cambodian workers (59 males and 54 females) who crossed over from Poi Pet to work in Thailand.

These workers would be hired by Thai factories as per the Thai- Cambodian memorandum of understanding on migrant labour.

Thai authorities also searched them for drugs and other illegal items while ensuring that non-documented workers did not sneak in by mixing up with the documented group. After taking photos of these workers and collecting copies of their documents, the Cambodians were handed over to their employers' representatives who transported them to designated factories.

One worker named Sa-euan Choy, 23, revealed that thousands of Cambodian people had applied to work with Thai companies through employment agencies which had recently opened in Phnom Penh City. The move follows the Cambodian government's approval for 8,000 workers to work in Thailand.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen earlier said that the Pheu Thai Party-led government would be the "best friend" of Cambodia. He said many Cambodians were happy and believed the Thai-Cambodia border clashes would end. He added that Cambodians were most hopeful about Pheu Thai Party's policy of hiking the minimum daily wage to Bt300, and many wanted to work in Thailand.

Sakaew immigration police deputy chief Pol Lt-Colonel Benjapol Rodsawas said that following the election, which was won by Pheu Thai, the atmosphere for tourism was more positive. Several tour companies in Cambodia were contacting to get tourists to visit Angkor Thom-Ankor Wat.

Aranyaprathet Customs Checkpoint chief Auaychai Kulthipmontri said it was expected that Thai exports to Cambodia through the checkpoint would increase to about Bt30 billion this year compared to about Bt28 billion last year.

-- The Nation 2011-07-10

Well its appears they have now set a precedent, so they had better get their check books out....

Outsourcing ... your ticket to a bankrupt society.

Edited July 10, 201114 yr by EnhancePlus

Perhaps the 300 baht minimum should apply to Thai's only?

Is unemployment in Thailand that low that foreign workers need yo be brought in en masse? does the B300 minimum apply to them?

Is unemployment in Thailand that low that foreign workers need yo be brought in en masse? does the B300 minimum apply to them?

1) Yes.

2) It should, otherwise companies will just advertise jobs at low wages and say "sorry fellow Thai, we can't employ you".

Couple of things:-

Cambodian serving staff typically earn about 60 Baht a day.

A primary school teacher earns circa $25 a month. One I spoke supplemented her income by working every evening in a bar (NOT Pattaya style!) for $50. About 2,250 Baht p.m. from two jobs.

Forget the mythical 300 Baht a day, I would take on a Cambodian for 120 Baht and throw in meals and accommodation. They are generally far better educated than the Thais and actually seem to have a work ethic.

Is unemployment in Thailand that low that foreign workers need yo be brought in en masse? does the B300 minimum apply to them?

1) Yes.

2) It should, otherwise companies will just advertise jobs at low wages and say "sorry fellow Thai, we can't employ you".

If workers are needed for the factories (relatively well paid), it seems a great idea to reduce the number of foreign workers and stop paying rice subsidies. if some of the inefficiently used work force in the rice industry had a strong incentive to move to better paying jobs, the rice industry could begin the reformation that it badly requires.

Of course, you had better do this at the start of your term, because you are unlikely to get a subsequent.

Perhaps the 300 baht minimum should apply to Thai's only?

I can’t believe how weird some people can be. 300 baht/day should be for Thai workers, the only reason for hiring Cambodians is a lower salary. But do they really know that they make more and more Thais jobless?

Now, where’s the 300 baht/day, the free Tablet PC’s plus the free WIFI for all students? High speed trains through the northeast would be like bungee jumping without a rope…….Forgive them, because they don’t know what they do. :jap:

Perhaps the 300 baht minimum should apply to Thai's only?

I can't believe how weird some people can be. 300 baht/day should be for Thai workers, the only reason for hiring Cambodians is a lower salary. But do they really know that they make more and more Thais jobless?

Now, where's the 300 baht/day, the free Tablet PC's plus the free WIFI for all students? High speed trains through the northeast would be like bungee jumping without a rope…….Forgive them, because they don't know what they do. :jap:

Well the good thing about this is that the "English teachers" in Thailand should have an increase coming their way soon.... ... I am happy for them...

But why should the mimium wage promised only apply to Thai's...rather racist dont you think..... ...if there is a national minimum wage declared it should apply to all workers, irrespective of nationality, the Cambodians are here legally then they should be afforded the same labour rights as anybody else...

I believe this bit of publicity is going to come back and bite the incumbent goverment in the ar*e

Edited July 10, 201114 yr by Soutpeel

Is there a labour shortage in Thailand?

Perhaps the 300 baht minimum should apply to Thai's only?

I can't believe how weird some people can be. 300 baht/day should be for Thai workers, the only reason for hiring Cambodians is a lower salary. But do they really know that they make more and more Thais jobless?

Now, where's the 300 baht/day, the free Tablet PC's plus the free WIFI for all students? High speed trains through the northeast would be like bungee jumping without a rope…….Forgive them, because they don't know what they do. :jap:

"The first batch of 113 Cambodian workers entered Thailand yesterday in the hope of getting paid a minimum wage of Bt300 per day as promised by the Pheu Thai-led government."

Perhaps the 300 baht minimum should apply to Thai's only?

I can't believe how weird some people can be. 300 baht/day should be for Thai workers, the only reason for hiring Cambodians is a lower salary. But do they really know that they make more and more Thais jobless?

Now, where's the 300 baht/day, the free Tablet PC's plus the free WIFI for all students? High speed trains through the northeast would be like bungee jumping without a rope…….Forgive them, because they don't know what they do. :jap:

"The first batch of 113 Cambodian workers entered Thailand yesterday in the hope of getting paid a minimum wage of Bt300 per day as promised by the Pheu Thai-led government."

".......... in the hope of getting paid a minimum wage of Bt300 per day......"

We all live in hope, but pinning your hopes on ".........as promised by the Pheu Thai-led government."

The new government isn't yet sworn in and it already has 'negotiated' such a deal.

Well the PT party have great spin doctors, and 'The Nation' have fall for it hook, line and sinker.

Fact is that the Migrant Labour Scheme has been around for years. The latest version was negotiated with the Dems, who did the hard yards in getting a viable nationality checking system and ID card framework up and running over the past 2 to 3 years. And it isn't just Cambodia that a signatories to this agreement, it is Laos and Burma too.

It is something that has been written about here in TV quite a few times.

Yet, PT are claiming that they are responsible for this enlightened policy!

Get ready for more of this stuff from PT. All spin, no substance.

Is there a labour shortage in Thailand?

There IS a shortage of semi - skilled/skilled labour in Thailand.

The textile factory that my gf is a customer service agent at employed about 200 Burmese last year. They are on the same wages as the Thais. The reason being there are just not enough skilled workers. (she told me that the Burmese worker production was better and quicker than the Thai worker for the 1st two months but then they learned to do less so that they would fit in, cos the Thai's were complaining)

To many Thais are now going to university and not enough to vocational schools (tech colleges). and off course many companies do not have sufficient training programs.

And under the new government it's going to get worse because they are NOT THINKING through the policies......

Is there a labour shortage in Thailand?

There IS a shortage of semi - skilled/skilled labour in Thailand.

The textile factory that my gf is a customer service agent at employed about 200 Burmese last year. They are on the same wages as the Thais. The reason being there are just not enough skilled workers. (she told me that the Burmese worker production was better and quicker than the Thai worker for the 1st two months but then they learned to do less so that they would fit in, cos the Thai's were complaining)

To many Thais are now going to university and not enough to vocational schools (tech colleges). and off course many companies do not have sufficient training programs.

And under the new government it's going to get worse because they are NOT THINKING through the policies......

Thank you, a concise and constructive answer.

Next question.

Do TAT count these as visitors?

The new government isn't yet sworn in and it already has 'negotiated' such a deal.

Well the PT party have great spin doctors, and 'The Nation' have fall for it hook, line and sinker.

Fact is that the Migrant Labour Scheme has been around for years. The latest version was negotiated with the Dems, who did the hard yards in getting a viable nationality checking system and ID card framework up and running over the past 2 to 3 years. And it isn't just Cambodia that a signatories to this agreement, it is Laos and Burma too.

It is something that has been written about here in TV quite a few times.

Yet, PT are claiming that they are responsible for this enlightened policy!

Get ready for more of this stuff from PT. All spin, no substance.

Strictly speaking anything happening till now is still the responsability of the care-taking government under PM Abhisit. Both the good and the bad. Only AFTER the election result has been formalized and MP's sworn in, outgoing PM Abhisit can turnover to who will be elected by fellow MPs to follow him. Only at that moment you might start to praise or blame the new government.

Is there a labour shortage in Thailand?

I was told recently the unemployment rate is around 1%. I cannot find a printed source to confirm that, but my business has a hard time finding staff now. All I hear now from potential staff is can I match other offers and benefits other companies are offering, and this is not for a high skill job.

Is unemployment in Thailand that low that foreign workers need yo be brought in en masse? does the B300 minimum apply to them?

8,000 is nothing, there are several million foreign workers from Burma, Laos and Cambodia working in Thailand, both legal and illegal. A lot of factories would close down and move to China if they couldn't use them.

If there is any increase in minimum wage I'd doubt it applies to foreign workers, if it does a lot of places would just use illegals instead of going legal. They can't enforce it now, they're not going to upset big business that relies on these people to work in their factories, fishing boats, and farms. Just like in the US

Here it is again. The cart is way out in front of the horse again.

Does not the PT have to at least form a government first, before they can start governing. Then they can start to impliment there policies.

When this 300 baht minimum wage is implemented is the question. It could be a few years before there is 300 baht going into anybodies pocket.