Thai govt says shut-down will delay new migrant policy

[webfact]

Thai govt says shut-down will delay new migrant policy



BANGKOK: -- A new policy to enable migrant workers in Thailand to extend work visas will have to wait until the political conflict gripping Bangkok subsides, a Thai government official has confirmed.

But labour rights activists in both Thailand and Myanmar say the migrant worker visa problem was clear long before the crisis in Bangkok, and accused the Thai government of making excuses for a deeply corrupt system.

“Thai law enforcers enjoy easy opportunities to extort and abuse these now completely vulnerable workers,” said Phil Robertson, Asia Pacific director at Human Rights Watch and co-author of several studies on migrant abuse.

There are more than 1 million registered migrant workers in Thailand, the vast majority of whom come from the border states of eastern Myanmar. Under an agreement signed by both the Thai and Myanmar governments that came into effect in 2009, Myanmar workers were able to attain work permits valid for up to four years.

However, the agreement did not specify how or when migrants could renew their permission to work in Thailand. The first batch of these passports began to expire in August 2013, leaving thousands with the difficult choice of staying in the country illegally or returning to a life of poverty in Myanmar.

The governments have so far been unable to agree on a new system and migrants caught overstaying have been forced to pay as much as 20,000 baht (US$620) a day, sources said.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/thai-govt-says-shut-will-delay-new-migrant-policy/


-- Thai PBS 2014-03-13

[TVGerry]

Hahaha typical PTP! Once again, blame the protests for their own uselessness! Red sympathizers going to say the labor activists are PRDC also?

[h90]

Hahaha typical PTP! Once again, blame the protests for their own uselessness! Red sympathizers going to say the labor activists are PRDC also?

And they could fix the problem easily, just step back and allow reforms.....migrant problem fixed...

[phuketrichard]

why do migrants have to pay 20,000 baht/day overstay while the rest of everyone its 500 baht/day?

[winstonc]

why do migrants have to pay 20,000 baht/day overstay while the rest of everyone its 500 baht/day?

they dont its a huge lie as usual..remember it will always be someone elses fault ..its thailand remember..

[NeilSA1]

"....But labour rights activists in both Thailand and Myanmar say the migrant worker visa problem was clear long before the crisis in Bangkok, and accused the Thai government of making excuses for a deeply corrupt system...."

Wow. If true, then It becomes more and more difficult to be neutral in the face of this latest lie.

[PepperMe]

Didn't someone bother to tell these idiots that the BKK shutdown ended 2 weeks ago?

Just another incompetent government agency using the protest get out of jail free card.

Utter <deleted>

[RubbaJohnny]

Didn't someone bother to tell these idiots that the BKK shutdown ended 2 weeks ago?

Just another incompetent government agency using the protest get out of jail free card.

Utter <deleted>

Not too hasty now the real Viagara has arrved to replace the fake soCIALISm

its going to be

BIGGER THAN EVER

You can rely on this being true as it was said by a local leader

[Mentors]

If all Burmese would stop working in Thailand and move home, then not only Bangkok area would have a real shut-down...

[Loles]

If all Burmese would stop working in Thailand and move home, then not only Bangkok area would have a real shut-down...

Yes, this is 100% right.

And what did they get exchange for it? They are kept like animals or slavers and I don't talk about only the well known fishing boat cases but talk about basic Bangkok days of these unlucky people. Shame.

[bigbamboo]

why do migrants have to pay 20,000 baht/day overstay while the rest of everyone its 500 baht/day?

Must be elite migrants.