‘One-stop office’ to help migrants at border

[Lite Beer]

‘One-stop office’ to help migrants at border

POIPET: -- Following an exodus of more than 200,000 Cambodian workers from Thailand in the past two weeks, the junta has urged Cambodia to expedite planned border offices that will facilitate legal labour migration.

Responding to that request, Cambodia announced yesterday that the first “one-stop service office” would open at BanteayMeanchey’s Poipet international checkpoint in July.

The office will assist migrant workers with the large amount of paperwork required by both countries, ideally streamlining the process and enticing workers to go abroad solely through legal channels.

“At first it will be just a trial.… Our purpose will be to help illegal migrant workers become legal workers,” Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training director-general SengSakada said at a labour migration workshop in the capital yesterday.

He added that if the Poipet office is successful, additional offices will open in Koh Kong and Pailin.

“The important thing is not to prevent migration but to create a national policy and find appropriate measures to protect labourers,” Sakada said.

Countless Cambodians travel to Thailand every year for seasonal work, usually without the proper legal documents. An estimated 400,000 to 500,000 Cambodians of both legal and undocumented status contribute to Thailand’s unskilled workforce.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/one-stop-office-help-migrants-border/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=one-stop-office-help-migrants-border

-- Thai PBS 2014-06-21

[Robby nz]

The office will assist migrant workers with the large amount of paperwork required by both countries, ideally streamlining the process and enticing workers to go abroad solely through legal channels.

A very good idea would be to cut down on the "large amount of paperwork required".

And either do away with or minimize the ,no doubt, large amount of money to be paid whether it be in fee or bribes.

[EricBerg]

Damage control I see. Yet good to try to register all workers without scaring them off. Thailand needs them so should facilitate them.

[bangkokheat]

The office will assist migrant workers with the large amount of paperwork required by both countries, ideally streamlining the process and enticing workers to go abroad solely through legal channels.

A very good idea would be to cut down on the "large amount of paperwork required".

And either do away with or minimize the ,no doubt, large amount of money to be paid whether it be in fee or bribes.

spot on, this paperwork obsession would be a nightmare for anyone, especially for the less educated, isnt it any wonder people do things "illegally"

[Thai at Heart]

Don't the employers have to go and register the workers.

Whilst registering is one thing, isn't it the case that if the employer does nothing then they remain illegal.

So the onus is now on employers?

[UbonRatch]

Don't the employers have to go and register the workers.

Whilst registering is one thing, isn't it the case that if the employer does nothing then they remain illegal.

So the onus is now on employers?

In theory yes. In practice no.

Think of half the schools in Thailand employing farang on visitor visas and without work permits.

Schools don't get into trouble, but the teacher would if caught - I think. Although, I've never heard of a teacher being slung out for having incorrect paperwork...

If schools can get away with it, I'm sure private businesses can more... with the old envelope magic.

[FangFerang]

A construction worker working on the roads is a hundred kilometers from the nearest immigration office and must report in every 90 days or (much worse) his employer takes his passport to immigration and then holds it ransom. Damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. Either miss a day of work (with immigration's Mon - Fri hours) or let his passport go off.

I hold that immigration is far more corrupt than the police -- and no is talking about getting rid of their corruption....I wonder why.

[Roychua]

Since the Cambodia side is offering a service office, why not let prospective employer in Thailand register with them on the number of employee needed, this way it would cut out middleman and minimize human trafficking cases. Employee would also be better protected.

Sent from my GT-N7105 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Oziex1]

A construction worker working on the roads is a hundred kilometers from the nearest immigration office and must report in every 90 days or (much worse) his employer takes his passport to immigration and then holds it ransom. Damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. Either miss a day of work (with immigration's Mon - Fri hours) or let his passport go off.

I hold that immigration is far more corrupt than the police -- and no is talking about getting rid of their corruption....I wonder why.

I think everyone on this forum talks about getting rid of all corruption in Thailand and I believe the powers that be are working on it, all of it.

[Hawk]

The country is seriously messed up, when the illegal workers are here, police/immigration harass them relentlessly, now they are gone, government is bending over backwards to entice them back.

Of course, when they come back oneday, then the police/immigration will be after them again! And so it goes!

[Great nestea]

Don't the employers have to go and register the workers.

Whilst registering is one thing, isn't it the case that if the employer does nothing then they remain illegal.

So the onus is now on employers?

[lvr181]

I hold that immigration is far more corrupt than the police -- and no is talking about getting rid of their corruption....I wonder why.

Because corruption is endemic in Thai society and will not change anytime soon.

I suspect corruption is in all Asian economies not just Thailand?

Edit: Added content.

[billd766]

Damage control I see. Yet good to try to register all workers without scaring them off. Thailand needs them so should facilitate them.

I don't see it as damage control at all. Thailand needs legal immigarnt workers but so many employers in Thailand prefer illegal workers as they are cheap, easy to get hold of and eqaully easy to get rid off without paying them, just tell the police who will arrest and deport them for a fee.

Remember there were always plenty more illegals where they came from.

Now the Army are in control theere will be less tea money for the police to rip off and they will HAVE to start doing what they are paid to do. If the middlemen lose their income from "fees", who cares. If the businessmen amke less profit, again who really cares.