NCPO makes assurances to stop the exodus of migrant workers: Thailand

[webfact]

Junta makes assurances to stop the exodus of migrant workers
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation


Cambodian workers get off the Bangkok-Aranyaprathet train yesterday. The exodus of workers continues even as the junta reiterates that it had no policy to crack down on migrant workers.

BANGKOK: -- To plug the exodus of much-needed migrant workers, notably Cambodians, the junta and the authorities yesterday quashed rumours of a crackdown, gave another chance to their employers and vowed to uphold human rights of alien workers.

The junta's order issued yesterday encouraged employers to register their migrant workers so authorities could regulate them and protect them from forced labour and other rights violations.

Agencies must enforce the law effectively to suppress human traffickers. "Officials involved in trafficking syndicates or taking bribes from them will be punished," it said.

Recent rumours have sent more than 100,000 migrant workers, mostly Cambodians, back to their homes. The mass exodus of low-paid workers might spell problems for the Thai economy, especially in the real estate and fisheries industries.

Sihasak Phuangketkeow, permanent secretary of the Foreign Ministry, met with Cambodian Ambassador Eat Sophea to seek ways to end the flight. Thailand has assured Cambodia that it had no policy to crack down on migrant workers and also guaranteed to protect their rights.

"I trust that the assurance [by Thailand] would be observed," Eat Sophea told the press.

Sihasak said he had no idea where the rumours came from, but insisted that even undocumented workers would be treated in accordance with Thailand's human rights obligations.

A hotline has been set up at the Cambodian Embassy and it was now receiving calls every two minutes seeking clarification on the rights and status of Cambodian workers in the Kingdom. "We've already spread the news to our workers. We have to give our assurance that this [persecution] is not happening," she said.

Cambodian workers, particularly those with work permits, should not panic, she said. Sihasak said the Foreign Ministry and the embassy will be communicating more frequently and will work closely to allay concerns and stub out rumours.

The National Council for Peace and Order only wants to reorganise migrant workers in Thailand so they can enjoy the same protection, welfare and rights as their Thai peers and not be exploited by their employers.

Migrant workers were a vital element of the Thai economy.

"I have insisted to [the Cambodian ambassador] that the rumours are unfounded," said Sihasak, who is acting as foreign minister under the military government.

The Labour Ministry will hand out leaflets in the Myanmar, Lao and Cambodian languages to employers to pass on to their migrant workers explaining the real situation and the foreign-labour policy of the junta, permanent secretary Jirasuk Sugandhajati said. The leaflets will reassure workers that the ministry was not indiscriminately prosecuting them.

Yongyuth Chalamwong, from the Thailand Development Research Institute, suggested that the junta grant an amnesty to employers of illegal migrants to allow them to register the workers within a few months.

Migrants from Myanmar are also panicking but have not yet left, said Sirigorn Leardchayopit of the Raksthai Foundation. Security officials are conducting searches in Samut Sakhon every night, causing Myanmar migrants to hide in temples and other places out of fear, she said.


-- The Nation 2014-06-18

[EricBerg]

It will take some time for the situation to settle down again. But the Cambodians can't find jobs in their home country so they will return to Thailand.

[NongKhaiKid]

It will take some time for the situation to settle down again. But the Cambodians can't find jobs in their home country so they will return to Thailand.

It was reported yesterday that a Cambodian govt minister, Foreign Minister I think, had told Thai officials his government would be assuring Cambodian workers it was safe to return to LoS.

I presume he meant legal workers, wouldn't do for officialdom on either side of the border to be encouraging illegal migration would it ?

Anyway the much needed illegals will start to return of their own accord when all the fuss dies down.

[Thai at Heart]

Until a week before it happened, apparently there was no coup either.

[Thai at Heart]

It will take some time for the situation to settle down again. But the Cambodians can't find jobs in their home country so they will return to Thailand.

Until which point. They won't come back on a promise.

180 k employees. 900 factories. That takes a year with a coordinated effort.

[Tokay]

Meanwhile, the police are doing daily raids in Chiang Mai for illegals.

Sorry Charlie, but with the history this country has on slavery, abuse and trafficing, in addition to the police and mlitary who have murderd to many migrants in the past and contine to gun down Cambodians who cross the border to log, no one is going to trust them.

"Don't Thai to me" they say in Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore. They know Thais are full of it. The Cambodians have been through strict military dictatorships before. That didn't work out too well for them, so I can understand why they don't trust the Thai army. I wouldn't either.

[Emptyset]

It will take some time for the situation to settle down again. But the Cambodians can't find jobs in their home country so they will return to Thailand.

It was reported yesterday that a Cambodian govt minister, Foreign Minister I think, had told Thai officials his government would be assuring Cambodian workers it was safe to return to LoS.

I presume he meant legal workers, wouldn't do for officialdom on either side of the border to be encouraging illegal migration would it ?

Anyway the much needed illegals will start to return of their own accord when all the fuss dies down.

Yes, they will. And the ones that will profit most from this exodus are - as usual - the smugglers and criminal gangs who get them across the border. A temporary amnesty would have been a much better idea in the first place. Of course they're giving assurances now because most of the "security threats" they were worried about have already left and now they're scared of losing too many legal migrants. I also wonder if it was part of an attempt to pressure Cambodia, because even though migrants from other countries were affected, Cambodians seemed to be the main target.

[RickBradford]

The junta's order issued yesterday encouraged employers to register their migrant workers so authorities could regulate them and protect them from forced labour and other rights violations.

That, of course, is precisely why employers don't want to register their migrant workers.

[bushwacker]

This just seems odd to me. Trying to reassure illegals not to panic and run away from the country that they are in illegally!

Where is Gonzo when you need him!

[rickirs]

The junta does have a credibility issue on its promises, particularly without a constitution in place. Remember how adamant the military was when it first mobilized that it had no intention of a coup. The junta needs to do more that give assurances that it will not deport migrant workers (whether legal or illegal is not the issue). It must take concrete actions to bring them back into Thailand such as special border worker immigrant passes (not visas) linked to employers.

[mrmicbkktxl]

It will take some time for the situation to settle down again. But the Cambodians can't find jobs in their home country so they will return to Thailand.

It was reported yesterday that a Cambodian govt minister, Foreign Minister I think, had told Thai officials his government would be assuring Cambodian workers it was safe to return to LoS.

I presume he meant legal workers, wouldn't do for officialdom on either side of the border to be encouraging illegal migration would it ?

Anyway the much needed illegals will start to return of their own accord when all the fuss dies down.

Problem is if they legal then they useless for the Thai slavery market.Illegal workers are easy to extort,also easy to just let them disappear

[Bangel72]

There is potential here for opportunity.

With Asean agreements on the free movement of people within the region not so far away, it is worth considering if there are any benefits in having a controlled pilot of free movement with a single country in this case Cambodia.

It would not be without risk but so does need some thought but there is probably some potential is leveraging from the current situation to put in place a win win situation that will also help Thailand prepare for the future and also provide lessons learned for all countries in the Asean region.

The way I see it, is that they want to crack down on a select group of illegals but also recognise their current process for legalising beneficial migrant workers is inadequate so are in a bit of a catch 22 situation, crack down on all illegals and damage business or ignore it and allow criminal business that is damaging to the country.

Change is needed so why not go beyond just fixing the current problem but leverage from it to fast track future planned changes.

[thumper101]

It will take some time for the situation to settle down again. But the Cambodians can't find jobs in their home country so they will return to Thailand.

Until which point. They won't come back on a promise.

180 k employees. 900 factories. That takes a year with a coordinated effort.

Who cares if they don't come back.... others will come instead and fill the void. It is now only about 7% of the migrant workforce that have left, and they are the losers here.

A year to coordinate my ar-se.

If anything, this is just a mass strike... Nothing more than industrial action to get pay rises... well yes... they will be achieved, but that will just trigger a flood from Myanmar and Laos to take the jobs at the better rate.

But personally, I couldn't care less about this any more... this news has become boring now.

The amount of kids being counted out of the country surely are not workers, but they get added to the numbers anyway to make it look more sensational. If they ARE workers, then that is shameful and I am glad they are gone.

Edited June 18, 2014 by thumper101

[thumper101]

Meanwhile, the police are doing daily raids in Chiang Mai for illegals.

Sorry Charlie, but with the history this country has on slavery, abuse and trafficing, in addition to the police and mlitary who have murderd to many migrants in the past and contine to gun down Cambodians who cross the border to log, no one is going to trust them.

"Don't Thai to me" they say in Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore. They know Thais are full of it. The Cambodians have been through strict military dictatorships before. That didn't work out too well for them, so I can understand why they don't trust the Thai army. I wouldn't either.

Well you know where the airport is..... goodbye and good luck in your new paradise wherever that may be.

[MaiChai]

The answer is an easy and cheap process to register cheap foreign labour. The system needs to be easy so employers can expand and contract foreign workers easily to meet their requirements. Maybe a two track process; one for professionals where the requirements are much higher and one for manual labourers. But then all of this contradicts the laws protecting work for Thais?