Amnesty needed to begin reforms involving migrants

[Lite Beer]

Amnesty needed to begin reforms involving migrants
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) has recommended the use of an amnesty to start foreign labour employment reforms and solving the labour shortage.

TDRI research director for labour development Yongyuth Chalamwong claims the foreign labour employment problem and Thailand's demotion to the US State Department's lowest tier for human trafficking are inter-linked.

"In past decade, Thailand couldn't seriously and transparently reform foreign worker employment. We are still neglecting [many issues] by compromising and using a half-amnesty - arrests, fines and continuing the employment, thus the problem accumulated," Yongyuth said.

He said Thailand still didn't know the real demand for foreign workers and it didn't know where these workers were or what they were doing.

According to reports over the past decade, demand for foreign labour was between up to three million people, or under 6 per cent of the country's manpower.

For lasting reform, an amnesty needs to be implemented to provide a chance to start anew for employers, foreign workers and accompanying people, he urged.

This would allow them to be legally registered and be inside the system, while also preventing gangs from taking advantage of them, he said, adding that the current political situation provided a chance to solve this problem.

The following recommendations were applicable to all professions except the fisheries sector, he added.

Firstly, the arrest of illegal migrant workers should be postponed and instead be handled by a "Complete Foreign Labour Management" policy, whereby employers are required to register labourers, legal and illegal, and accompanying people.

While legal workers could continue working for another two years, illegal workers would have to either submit to the work permit application process or be deported so their home country could issue them with the proper papers before returning to Thailand.

Reform of all sectors needed

Secondly, after a leniency period of between two and three months, a crackdown on illegal workers and their employers would be implemented.

Thirdly, within one to two years there must be reform of all sectors that employ foreign labourers.

Quick research would determine which fields have a labour shortage so foreign workers can fill the holes, while the 39 professions reserved for Thais should also be reviewed and updated.

Yongyuth said employment of foreign workers should be done according to the 2008 Foreign Labour Act and there should be clear rules and regulations on work terms or the implementation of special economic zones.

The 22 coastal provinces with aquatic animal farms and fishery activities should also be regulated, because fishery businesses have caused Thailand problems with other countries, particularly in regard to forced labour and human trafficking.

Yongyuth proposed that the sector be held as a special project, separate from general foreign employment so that problems could be solved speedily, concretely and integrally.

Another special project should involve workers at rubber, palm and fruit plantations, he said, urging the people in the agriculture sector to allow the hiring of whole families to motivate workers to stay longer.

Fourthly, the Department of Employment's Office of Foreign Workers Administration should be made more efficient and its status elevated to be equal with a department with 10 times more officials.

Lastly, there should be sufficient budget to manage this - Bt300 million annually - and the money could partially come from worker registrations, renewal fees and the repatriation fund.

"Solving the labour shortage should not be limited to only workers from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos.

There are workers from other countries that are ready to work here - such as Vietnam and Bangladesh - if there were distinct employers with legal and correct procedures in place," Yongyuth said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Amnesty-needed-to-begin-reforms-involving-migrants-30237345.html

-- The Nation 2014-06-29

[FangFerang]

Amnesty for yellow businesses that participated in human slavery, no problem.

Amnesty for political detainees and opponents of the yellow farce -- never.

[ggold]

maybe total reform of migrant labour laws would be better, this just sounds like they are saying why abuse one migrant worker when you can abuse his whole family?

Another special project should involve workers at rubber, palm and fruit plantations, he said, urging the people in the agriculture sector to allow the hiring of whole families to motivate workers to stay longer.

[robblok]

Amnesty for yellow businesses that participated in human slavery, no problem.

Amnesty for political detainees and opponents of the yellow farce -- never.

Go complain to dear leader...they had a chance to free al red prisoners and amnesty them. Everyone was in agreement.. and then he had his name placed on the list ruining it all leading to this coup.

[gchurch259]

Why Amnesty ? If you are begging for it then you must be guilty. Psychology teach's, people do what that want and then justify it. When that fails they want a free pass (amnesty for their deeds). People in Thaland and the surrounding countries have made millions off the backs of almost slave labor and now say "Oh I am sorry, please don't punish me".

P.S. It is not just Thailand. A while back I was in Singapore and stopped by one of the bars with some of my colleauges for a beer or two. Talking with the Phillippine Girls there to push drinks they are in the same jam. They pay an outrageous fee to a broker to go there and at the end of 90 days they are lucky to break even or take $300.00 US home. They do this on a Tourtist Visa and have to dodge police the whole time there are there. Guess what some of the other bars have Thai girls there and the same scenerio !!

[tingtongteesood]

No amnesty for anyone ! If they committed crimes, make them pay the price. No sympathy for anyone....