Bangkok protests leave many Myanmar migrant workers without visas



BANGKOK: -- Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand are struggling to extend expired working visas as continuous anti-government protests in Bangkok and elsewhere affect the country’s administration, leaving thousands at risk of arrest, according to sources.

“Because of political rallies, it has not been easy to negotiate between the two governments for Myanmar workers who have lived in Thailand for longer than their four-year visas,” Aye Myint, Myanmar’s Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security told The Irrawaddy.

The Union Daily, a private newspaper sponsored by the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), recently quoted Aye Myint denying that his government has done nothing for those workers who overstay.

“There have been discussions and negotiations between the two governments but our workers are still targeted by thuggish gangs and those who want to extort money from them,” the newspaper quoted as Aye Myint was saying.

According to a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2009 by the Myanmar and Thai governments, Myanmar migrant workers whose four-year visas have expired are allowed to come back to work in Thailand only after they have gone back to Myanmar and lived there for three years.

The Labour Ministry, however, is reportedly trying to negotiate with its Thai counterpart a way for workers to remain in Thailand without needing to return home.

About three millions Burmese migrant workers are reportedly working in Thailand, most of whom take jobs in construction, agriculture, fishery, seafood factories, garment factories and restaurants.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/bangkok-protests-leave-many-myanmar-migrant-workers-without-visas/


-- Thai PBS 2014-01-29

You'll find many at Talad Thai market, Khlong Luang, or surrounding khlong areas, as well as all over TH of course. Most have never had visas anyway, and don't seem to mind that much (on the outside). They get back home often enough, and back in, with a small envelope at immi, based upon promises from the ones who earn good money, and are not abused. It is the latter complaining about their visas.... the headmen/women.

four-year visas - wish I could get some of those....

Where are the forum members to denounce the abuse of the visa system by foreigners?

My only quarm with this is, as a foreigner you should be able to go to any available immigration/labour office. This regionalized policy is crap and should be changed.

they can just go home, after the rallies, it might start to rain unemployments on thais

but wait, those are jobs thais think they are too good to do

There are many thousands of Burmese rubber tree taper in Surat Thani and the South...

Oh that shouldn't matter. I hear there are a bunch of Cambodians with guns apparently running around freely in Bangkok. I'm sure they don't have visas, let alone work permits. They do have 'contracts' mind you.