Concern for children as Cambodian workers begin to flood back to Thailand

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Concern for children as Cambodian workers begin to flood back
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Cambodian workers are migrating back to Thailand en-masse following a mass exodus last month in the wake of the coup. This movement has sparked safety concerns for young children travelling alongside their parents, says World Vision, one of the world's largest aid agencies.

"Our staff working along the border are reporting groups of migrants travelling back into Thailand without waiting for legal documentation, thinking that the process would take a long time," says Jason Evans, national director for World Vision in Cambodia.

"Our major concern however, is for the children that are in tow as they are being put at increased risk by being taken into another country undocumented and unprotected."

"As an organisation dedicated to protecting the rights of children and ensuring their safety regardless of race and nationality, our main goal is to provide assistance to migrants and their families, especially the affected children," says Chitra Thumborisuth, director of World Vision Thailand.

"Cambodian children who go with their parents to work in Thailand, instead of living with grandparents or extended family in their community, become increasingly at-risk as they lack access to education, play environments, nutritious food, and face potential separation from their parents.

"From our experience of responding to the mass exodus of migrants from Thailand at Poipet border last month, we encountered many cases of lost children - who couldn't find their parents as they left Thailand. If parents continue to migrate irregularly, children will continue to be separated from them," said Evans, adding that more education on safe migration was needed before migrants depart.

"The governments of Thailand and Cambodia have pledged to find solutions for migrants to cross borders legally. All efforts need to be made to protect the safety of Cambodian workers and their families re-migrating to Thailand and expedite their regularisation as legal migrant workers," said John Whan Yoon, manager for World Vision's End Trafficking In Persons Programme.

"We are looking forward to seeing fruitful cooperation and more efficient and effective implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding Against Trafficking in Persons between the two countries. This way, we can ensure that all migrants, especially those with vulnerable children, won't become victims of trafficking when they migrate."

Due to fears of a crackdown on illegal workers last month, at least 230,000 Cambodians fled back to Cambodia. Thai military personnel are posted at Aranyaprathet in Sa Kaew, to facilitate the workers' return.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Concern-for-children-as-Cambodian-workers-begin-to-30238410.html


-- The Nation 2014-07-14

[lostsoul49]

If the parents are coming to work, then how can they bring their kids with them?

Surely their kids can't get the necessary registration documents anyway as they are not allowed to work.

Looks to me that the children are indeed being brought to work.

Thailand must NEED the internationally banned child labour.

[UbonRatch]

If the parents are coming to work, then how can they bring their kids with them?

Surely their kids can't get the necessary registration documents anyway as they are not allowed to work.

Quote - "travelling back into Thailand without waiting for legal documentation".

There's nothing new here, as this has been happening for decades. It's a chance for another organisation to reap money - simple as that.

[doremifasol]

"At Poipet border last month, we encountered many cases of lost children

who couldn't find their parents as they left Thailand"

There is no mention about where those children are now.

Poor kids....left behind by their parents first then by the system.

[kerrysum]

If the parents are coming to work, then how can they bring their kids with them?

Surely their kids can't get the necessary registration documents anyway as they are not allowed to work.

Looks to me that the children are indeed being brought to work.

Thailand must NEED the internationally banned child labour.

The pint is the pound, the world around, just look at what is happening in the United States right now, from Central America... Children coming in, with no parents? Oh well.....

Kerry...

Or is this just a part of Human Trafficking? Oh and I forgot, this legal, visa/vee the ones that want them.

Kerry

[chainarong]

Thailand must improve it's registration of migrant workers and appoint immigration inspectors and along side police, carry out frequent immigration raids on suspect area's that require cheap labour and poor conditions ,otherwise next year Thailand will be once again whinging about the unfair treatment from the international community, you need to get your act together Thailand, you drag your feet on every issue, which is not good enough, there seems to be a systematic failure from all levels of government departments to understand the basic's of understanding anything.

[wabothai]

How are the foreign workers going to take care or the kids when they are at work. Here also lies responsibility of custom officials. If the kids cannot be properly taken care off, the parents should not be allowed in.

[FangFerang]

If parents continue to migrate irregularly, children will continue to be separated from them..

Of course, no Thais would use them as begger slaves, sex slaves or slave labour.....

yeah, right.

[Benmart]

If the parents are coming to work, then how can they bring their kids with them?

Surely their kids can't get the necessary registration documents anyway as they are not allowed to work.

Quote - "travelling back into Thailand without waiting for legal documentation".

There's nothing new here, as this has been happening for decades. It's a chance for another organisation to reap money - simple as that.

Many NGOs are financially strapped, are regularly audited by independent, non-affiliated international agencies and are transparent financially.

That being said, there are always those that take opportunities, such as this, to reap profits from the pain and suffering of others.

I prefer not to lump all or any organization into a collective entity.

[Benmart]

If the parents are coming to work, then how can they bring their kids with them?

Surely their kids can't get the necessary registration documents anyway as they are not allowed to work.

Looks to me that the children are indeed being brought to work.

Thailand must NEED the internationally banned child labour.

The pint is the pound, the world around, just look at what is happening in the United States right now, from Central America... Children coming in, with no parents? Oh well.....

Kerry...

Or is this just a part of Human Trafficking? Oh and I forgot, this legal, visa/vee the ones that want them.

Kerry

Some merit to your post. Mr. Kerry is a temporary appointee and doesn't merit much attention IMO. Singling out the USA on a global problem seems to be a veiled dislike for the country.

I would like to see an example of any other major power that has brought up issues on human rights, child labor, slavery, etc. that has resulted in progress being made to combat these issues.

The USA, for all it's failings, blunders, mistakes and misguided intentions, is not the only title holder of wayward, bigotted and corrupted thinking.

Edited July 14, 2014 by Benmart

[Nemesis7]

If the parents are coming to work, then how can they bring their kids with them?

Surely their kids can't get the necessary registration documents anyway as they are not allowed to work.

Quote - "travelling back into Thailand without waiting for legal documentation".

There's nothing new here, as this has been happening for decades. It's a chance for another organisation to reap money - simple as that.

So very true, without the help of any agent I don't think so these workers can just walk in to Thailand, some third party is making money in deed