Exodus of Cambodian workers from Thailand hits agriculture, construction sectors

[webfact]

Exodus hits agriculture, construction sectors
The Nation



Ministry to move documented workers to sites vacated by fleeing cambodians

BANGKOK: -- OF THE MORE THAN 100,000 Cambodian workers who fled Thailand, 60-70 per cent were in the construction and agricultural sector in the East, permanent secretary for Labour Jeerasak Sukhonthachart said yesterday.

Over the past week, more than 100,000 Cambodian workers in Thailand have returned home following rumours that the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) was planning to crack down on them.

The Labour Ministry has said it would launch a project to systematically move documented workers to the areas abandoned by the departed Cambodians.

However, the Thai-Cambodian Border Trade and Tourism Association of Chanthaburi province has predicted the Cambodian workers would return to Thailand within a few weeks because Thai wages are at least three times higher than those in Cambodia.

Speaking to 1,500 employers and migrant workers in Chon Buri's Sri Racha district yesterday, Jeerasak said Rayong had seen 30,000 documented Cambodian workers and possibly another 30,000 undocumented ones departing Thailand.

'Crackdown aimed at traffickers'

He said the NCPO's crackdown was aimed not at individual workers but at human trafficking to punish procuring persons, the employers and benefit-reaping officials.

Under a project to tackle the suddden labour shortage, employers could inform their provincial employment office about the number of migrant workers needed, their sex, work details, wages and welfare.

The office could then contact other employment offices with plentiful migrant workers to invite them to work in the affected areas, he added.

Business operators also urged the waiving of the Bt1,000 fee per worker charged in cases of migrant worker relocation.

Chon Buri employment official Pichit Nilthongkham said the province's 90,000 documented workers included some 40,000 Cambodians. The worker exodus - although mostly by undocumented Cambodians - affected all sectors especially agriculture and fisheries, followed by construction and tourism and hospitality. Pichit said Thai authorities tried to have employers keep records of migrant workers for easier checking. At the same time, other business operators could be asked to "lend" their workers to the hard-hit agricultural sector.

The chairman of Sri Racha district's club of migrant workers, Min Lin Sao, said 200 out of the club's 300 members had departed Thailand. He said he would relay the official message to club members that the Army and the police would not mistreat the workers.

He said many understood this and had continued to work as usual.

Rayong Chamber of Commerce chair Anuchida Chinsiraprapha said the Cambodian workers' exodus had affected businesses on the tourist island of Koh Samet.

SMEs suffering

Despite attempts by Thai authorities to allay foreign workers' concerns, most remained worried and their departures had impacted small- and medium-sized enterprises, she said. All 500 Cambodian workers on Koh Samet had left local shops, restaurants and hotels and consequently there was little labour on duty in the service sector there.

The shortage was also severe in the agricultural sector as there were no workers to harvest fruit or tap latex, she said, warning the problem would expand to fisheries and the para wood (natural rubber tree) industries.

Fruit orchard owners in Rayong's Muang district, meanwhile, claimed they had to hire Thai workers at Bt500 a day - compared to the Bt300 a day paid to Cambodians. Orchard-owner Somkuan Prangsri said, "Thai workers also aren't as skilled in fruit-picking as the migrant workers we used to hire, so we get low-quality produce bringing down the price of fruit."

However, some Cambodian workers are reportedly returning to Pong Nam Ron and Soi Dao districts in Chanthaburi province, as they need wages to support their families.

Some Cambodians told their Thai employers they would be back after preparing their documents to seek legal immigration into Thailand.

Former energy minister Pichai Naripthaphan commented that the re-organising of Thailand's 5-6 million migrant workers, documented or otherwise, should be carefully implemented as an exodus could severely affect the country's economy already hampered by the unrest.

He urged the authority to take into consideration the upcoming Asean Economic Community that promoted a free flow of labour.

Meanwhile, Chulalongkorn University academic Panitan Wattanayagorn backed the plan to have some 2 million illegal workers registered into a proper system, which would also give them basic rights |protection and boost Thailand's image.

Many provinces - such as Nakhon Ratchasima, Tak and Songkhla - have seen Thai authorities adopting public relations to help employers and migrant workers understand the situation and dismiss talk of a violent crackdown on Cambodian workers.

Cambodian Interior Minister Sar Kheng placed the blame for the crisis squarely at Bangkok's door, AFP reported yesterday.

"After the military coup in Thailand, the Thai military leaders sent illegal Cambodian migrant workers in a rush without informing and discussing with Cambodia," he said in Phnom Penh, adding that eight people had been killed in traffic accidents linked to the exodus.

"I think that the current leaders of the Thai junta must be held accountable for what has happened."

Sar Kheng, who is also deputy prime minister, said Cambodian migrants had helped boost the Thai economy, which is the second-largest in Southeast Asia and draws large numbers of migrants from its neighbours.

"So when they deported them, there will be a problem. According to my informal information, [Thai] employers have started to protest against the issue," he said.


-- The Nation 2014-06-19

[ukrules]

How about offering some kind of amnesty for the undocumented and in country registration so they can all easily go 'legit' for free to encourage those who have left to return.

Cut out the middle man agencies who prey on people looking for work. You should never have to pay to get a job. They should pay you a signing bonus to encourage you to travel.

Edited June 18, 2014 by ukrules

[Roadman]

How about offering some kind of amnesty for the undocumented and in country registration so they can all easily go 'legit' for free to encourage those who have left to return.

Cut out the middle man agencies who prey on people looking for work. You should never have to pay to get a job. They should pay you a signing bonus to encourage you to travel.

Cut out the paying for a job principle at that level then and it also sets a base principle for thai's themselves to start policing the same principle and especially at the most corrupt coal face of politicians buying their seat.

[chooka]

The Labour Ministry has said it would launch a project to systematically move documented workers to the areas abandoned by the departed Cambodians.

This sounds like they are the property of the Junta and they will just be moved from one paddock to another. Where is their freedom to work for an employer of their choice? You can own a buffalo but you can't own a human and do with them as you please.

[Somtamnication]

The Thai's medicine is a bitter pill to swallow.

[NongKhaiKid]

How about offering some kind of amnesty for the undocumented and in country registration so they can all easily go 'legit' for free to encourage those who have left to return.

Cut out the middle man agencies who prey on people looking for work. You should never have to pay to get a job. They should pay you a signing bonus to encourage you to travel.

Cut out the middle man ! Good God you have just suggested a sea change to the habits of a lifetime, I like it but ... ?

[TimCM]

The Labour Ministry has said it would launch a project to systematically move documented workers to the areas abandoned by the departed Cambodians.

This sounds like they are the property of the Junta and they will just be moved from one paddock to another. Where is their freedom to work for an employer of their choice? You can own a buffalo but you can't own a human and do with them as you please.

Sounds a lot like slavery doesn't it.

But they just finished explaining to the US that they are no longer doing this

[thumper101]

The Labour Ministry has said it would launch a project to systematically move documented workers to the areas abandoned by the departed Cambodians.

This sounds like they are the property of the Junta and they will just be moved from one paddock to another. Where is their freedom to work for an employer of their choice? You can own a buffalo but you can't own a human and do with them as you please.

Under a project to tackle the suddden labour shortage, employers could inform their provincial employment office about the number of migrant workers needed, their sex, work details, wages and welfare.

''The office could then contact other employment offices with plentiful migrant workers to invite them to work in the affected areas, he added.''

No need to twist the story and reinvent it just to score some likes from members who equally can't read simple English.

Where does it mention ownership or forcing movement??????

Edited June 19, 2014 by thumper101

[Crushdepth]

So hire some Thais. No sympathy on this one.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[thumper101]

The Labour Ministry has said it would launch a project to systematically move documented workers to the areas abandoned by the departed Cambodians.

This sounds like they are the property of the Junta and they will just be moved from one paddock to another. Where is their freedom to work for an employer of their choice? You can own a buffalo but you can't own a human and do with them as you please.

Sounds a lot like slavery doesn't it.

But they just finished explaining to the US that they are no longer doing this

Obviously Chooka is not the only one who can't read.

Or is this selective reading by you lot of Shin supporters who have displayed this trait for over 7 months now?

Yes it is.

Or are you openly accusing the military of enforcing slavery and human trafficking??.... because it bloody well reads that way to me, and I am sure a head military guy will read it the same.

Watch your back.

Edited June 19, 2014 by thumper101

[chooka]

The Labour Ministry has said it would launch a project to systematically move documented workers to the areas abandoned by the departed Cambodians.

This sounds like they are the property of the Junta and they will just be moved from one paddock to another. Where is their freedom to work for an employer of their choice? You can own a buffalo but you can't own a human and do with them as you please.

Sounds a lot like slavery doesn't it.

But they just finished explaining to the US that they are no longer doing this

Obviously Chooka is not the only one who can't read.

Or is this selective reading by you lot of Shin supporters who have displayed this trait for over 7 months now?

Yes it is.

Or are you openly accusing the military of enforcing slavery and human trafficking??.... because it bloody well reads that way to me, and I am sure a head military guy will read it the same.

Watch your back.

how does this make one a Shin supporter. I am glad the Shins are gone so if having a different opinion to you makes me a Shin supporter then so be it. To try and win a discussion by simply saying you are a Shin supporter I win, is getting boring.

[timewilltell]

Seems to me Cambodia should be working a bit harder to provide better paying a Employment for their workers, maybe by opening up their country by facilitating foreign investment.

At the same time maybe Thailand should be making its rules and regulations a little more easy and accommodating to migrant labour that it clearly needs?

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa app

[baboon]

The Labour Ministry has said it would launch a project to systematically move documented workers to the areas abandoned by the departed Cambodians.

This sounds like they are the property of the Junta and they will just be moved from one paddock to another. Where is their freedom to work for an employer of their choice? You can own a buffalo but you can't own a human and do with them as you please.

Yes you can. Such is the beauty of dictatorship. You get to do whatever you want and no-one can argue.

[pookiki]

One of the reasons offered for arresting and deporting undocumented migrant workers was that these workers were taking jobs that Thais could perform. Well, if there are Thais available for agricultural work but they the can demand 500 baht per day instead of the 300 baht given to migrant workers, what's wrong with that? What this proves is that migrant workers are keeping wages artificially low and that the average Thai worker will benefit. Am I missing something?

[rubl]

"Fruit orchard owners in Rayong's Muang district, meanwhile, claimed they had to hire Thai workers at Bt500 a day - compared to the Bt300 a day paid to Cambodians."

I guess with only a legal, Thai workforce soon prices for consumers will go up? That is assuming the statement above is correct and truthful.

[fab4]

Obviously Chooka is not the only one who can't read.

Or is this selective reading by you lot of Shin supporters who have displayed this trait for over 7 months now?

Yes it is.

Or are you openly accusing the military of enforcing slavery and human trafficking??.... because it bloody well reads that way to me, and I am sure a head military guy will read it the same.

Watch your back.

More distasteful threats - have you no shame?

[bangkokheat]

so you got to ask yourself thailand, just how important foreigners are, regardless if they are workers or just foreigners living here

[Chang_paarp]

Immigration police must be feeling some heat here, their reluctance to register foreigners to allow them to work is coming to rest. They need to get their stuff together and make the system better to allow the foreigners to be registered and have some flexibility in their employment.

[paddyjenkins]

The Labour Ministry has said it would launch a project to systematically move documented workers to the areas abandoned by the departed Cambodians.

This sounds like they are the property of the Junta and they will just be moved from one paddock to another. Where is their freedom to work for an employer of their choice? You can own a buffalo but you can't own a human and do with them as you please.

Seems like the Thai people still don't get this human rights thing. Maybe they need to undergo an attitude adjustment.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[fab4]

"Fruit orchard owners in Rayong's Muang district, meanwhile, claimed they had to hire Thai workers at Bt500 a day - compared to the Bt300 a day paid to Cambodians."

I guess with only a legal, Thai workforce soon prices for consumers will go up? That is assuming the statement above is correct and truthful.

And that is you assuming that the cambodians previously hired were not legal. If they are legal it highlights the fact that less skilled Thai workers are paid more than the migrant workforce.

Whatever, if the regulations are enforced and only registered Cambodians are allowed to re enter Thailand, it follows that these skilled Cambodians should be paid the real rate i.e 500 baht per day. This will mean that either the employer soaks up the real cost of employment, or more likely passes the cost on to the consumer.

Either way, the mass exodus of the migrant workers has opened up one mighty can of worms and may force the relevant people to think more carefully about the consequences of their actions, or at the very least, slow it down some.

[HUAHIN62]

One of the reasons offered for arresting and deporting undocumented migrant workers was that these workers were taking jobs that Thais could perform. Well, if there are Thais available for agricultural work but they the can demand 500 baht per day instead of the 300 baht given to migrant workers, what's wrong with that? What this proves is that migrant workers are keeping wages artificially low and that the average Thai worker will benefit. Am I missing something?

Yes you are missing a number of things, there are not enough Thai's to do all the jobs. If you look at the official unemployment stats you will see that the most unemployed people in the country are ones with degrees and not manual laborers. Last years stats showed 60 000 people with degrees that was unemployed and there was an article in Bangkok post that 150 000 new graduates will not find jobs this year. The other factor you are missing is greed by Thai employers, corrupt officials and lies about what is really going on. Reports from Cambodia tells a much different story. Forget about all what you have read and think, why would so many people that are making a living in Thailand, suddenly in their thousands decide to flee the country, leaving behind their jobs, belongings and using their last cash. Do you think that rumors are a strong enough reason to put so much fear into people. Why are only people from Cambodia fleeing? There are many illegal workers from Burma and Lao, why are they not fleeing in their tens of thousands? So you get white lies and you get damn lies.

Edited June 19, 2014 by theoldgit
Quote fixed

[Hawk]

Whose going to suffer now? As predicted, farms, factories, construction will close or already have, the economy takes a hit and the Thais pay more and wallow in a problem of their own making.

[bobmac10]

So hire some Thais. No sympathy on this one.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Sounds simple until you actually try to do that.

[DeepInTheForest]

From any vantage point, this seems to be a bit of a bobble.

It's not easy to run a country, and militaries of the world are not particularly skilled at it, lacking the skills developed by civil society and institutions (despite the opinions of some of us on TV). It's the gritty details-- the economic ins and outs, the daily give-and-take, the often-odious but necessary horse-trading that is part of politics-- where the problems lie. Also, the absence of checks and balances-- imperfect at best in civil society, but close to an existential challenge in the military governance model-- can lead to difficulties.

Of course, these areas are where our civil governments often stumble as well. There is also the fact of our neoliberalized economic system, which systematically embraces a market-uber-alles approach that benefits a few, overlooks its failures, and is increasingly leading us onto the rocks. Witness the military's efforts to reform the governing boards of Thai airways and others mentioned in another article. It would be nice if the current system could simply flush away corruption and governance problems.

It would be nice. But at some point, Thai civil society has to learn to deal with problems and stand on its own.

Edited June 19, 2014 by DeepInTheForest

[tonbridgebrit]

So hire some Thais. No sympathy on this one.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Crushdepth, I think it's extremely rare that I agree with stuff that you write. But on this occasion, yes, I feel exactly the same way as you.

As the report says, they're having to pay Thais 500 baht a day, instead of 300 baht. Oh, they're not as good at picking fruit ? Oh well, give them time, give them two months, I'm sure they will improve !

[Krataiboy]

Shades of the Europe and the UK where virtual slave immigrant labour helps boost the profits of big business but erodes the wages and conditions of the indigenous labour force.

Maybe the generals were unaware of this when they originally started cracking down on illegal immigrant workers. But I bet it didn't take long for the captains of Thai industry to put them in the picture.

[Tomtomtom69]

"He urged the authority to take into consideration the upcoming Asean Economic Community that promoted a free flow of labour."

Wrong - AEC does not encourage a free flow of ALL labour. Certainly not unskilled labour - in fact, I think only a few types of skilled labour were mentioned such as nurses, doctors, certain types of engineers etc. If it did, then 10-15 million mainly unskilled Cambodians would be flooding into Singapore, yeah right, like Singapore would allow that to happen.

[DeepInTheForest]

"He urged the authority to take into consideration the upcoming Asean Economic Community that promoted a free flow of labour."

Wrong - AEC does not encourage a free flow of ALL labour. Certainly not unskilled labour - in fact, I think only a few types of skilled labour were mentioned such as nurses, doctors, certain types of engineers etc. If it did, then 10-15 million mainly unskilled Cambodians would be flooding into Singapore, yeah right, like Singapore would allow that to happen.

Capital can easily cross national boundaries. Workers cannot move so freely. This is a fact of life that some have challenged as unfair. Why should this be? It enforces a bias toward the exploitation of lower wages.

Those benefiting from the current economic system have no interest in seeing it change, obviously.

Edited June 19, 2014 by DeepInTheForest

[keithkarmann]

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So hire some Thais. No sympathy on this one.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Do not forget there are only 0.7% of Thai people unemployed (if you can believe that) so there would not be enough Thais to fill the void left by the Cambodians etc. I can always ask my future possible father in law who I reluctantly support to get out of his hammock and go and get a job and that would be one less Cambodian needed. No No No that was a stupid idea.

[janpharma]

The Labour Ministry has said it would launch a project to systematically move documented workers to the areas abandoned by the departed Cambodians.

This sounds like they are the property of the Junta and they will just be moved from one paddock to another. Where is their freedom to work for an employer of their choice? You can own a buffalo but you can't own a human and do with them as you please.

Unfortunately this still can happen...in Thailand, where corruption rules and that's the only reason. This is the country where police, teaching, governmental jobs and other are paid for (i.e. police: 1 year salary to be paid to start work, teaching: 500.000 to 1000000 Thb, lawyer: 1000000 Thb etc...etc...)

Only by fighting corruption the problem can be solved.