Migrants criticise Thailand's work permit costs

[Lite Beer]

Migrants criticise Thailand's work permit costs

BANGKOK: -- Few Myanmar migrant workers have their work permits extended at the one-stop-service office in Mae Sot, in Tak province, citing the expensive costs, according to Moe Kyo, chairperson of the Joint Action Committee for Burmese Affairs.

The one-year work permits, so-called pink cards among the migrants, can be obtained at the office in line with Thailand's policy to crack down illegal workforce. The one-year card costs Bt3,160 (US$98) with children costing Bt1,120 each.

Moe Kyo said that the cost is too high given that no worker in Mae Sot enjoys the minimum wage of Bt300 and most earn Bt80-Bt180 a day. He questioned if Thailand wants to take advantage of the migrants.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Migrants-criticise-Thailands-work-permit-costs-30257837.html

-- The Nation 2015-04-10

[thequietman]

Why are children paying for a work permit?

Also why does someone from Myanmar pay more for a work permit than I do?

[NeverSure]

"...and most earn Bt80-Bt180 a day."

​Sickening.

[sawati]

They use them as slaves...

[greenchair]

Burma is rising. If they stay on track with their democratic goals. Ten years from now they will be making more money in their own country. It will be interesting to see how this flip flop will play out.

[maidee]

many thai middle & rich, prefer to pay as least as possible for a living maid they can order around 24/7

they probably spend more on a restaurant visit / handbag / fake white cream product than the pittance of salary they pay their modern SLAVE

[LuckyLew]

They are paying for a work permit but still getting slave wages

Only in Thailand

Disgusting

[Sealbash]

They are paying for a work permit but still getting slave wages

Only in Thailand

Disgusting

Or they could just stay home in their own country?

[BSJ]

80 baht a day! Considering the wage is so small and the cost of a work permit so huge they would be better off staying home.

[Cylon]

But Asean should see an end to these charges ?

[loong]

As Myanmar workers are supposed to have a minimum income of 25,000 Baht per month to get a work permit, I wonder how they get round that if only getting as little as 80 Baht per day. Do they not have to show any proof at all?

[trainman34014]

Not only do the Thai's want slave labour....they want to rob them as well !

Disgustingly amazing Thailand.

[FangFerang]

Slavery and human trafficking are encouraged by this policy....and everyone knows it, except the PM....

[wotsdermatter]

According to maidee, "...many thai middle & rich, prefer to pay as least as possible for a living maid..." I wonder how much they would pay for a dead maid?

[teambum]

Most Burmese come to Thailand to stay alive, an option not available to them in Burma.

[issanaus]

Most Burmese come to Thailand to stay alive, an option not available to them in Burma.

The current situation there suggests that things maybe getting worse!

[casualbiker]

The item they are talking about is NOT a work permit which is a blue book. The item is a special combined visa / wp only for migrant workers from surrounding countries!

[englishoak]

"...and most earn Bt80-Bt180 a day."

​Sickening.

They at least have a chance to earn more, or so they think until getting here.

The truly sickening thing is everyones so bothered about the work permit yet no one is that bothered about the min wage being abused and withheld from these people.

Charging someone to work as a slave is basically what they are doing and that is indeed sickening.

[Sealbash]

Most Burmese come to Thailand to stay alive, an option not available to them in Burma.

The current situation there suggests that things maybe getting worse!

On what information do you make that statement?

[Eddy B]

No one should have to pay for a work permit. All people employed should be go to a labour office with their paper work to be put in the database and be given a card to provide their employment details. I think they are maybe hitting the Myanmar workers harder because they will not get any tax payments from them at the end financial year as they will not have earned enough money............so get as much up front. Children should not have to pay anything as for one they are not being employed but if they are then it is nothing more than slave labour/sweater shop tactics.