Migrant Workers in Thailand Face ‘Temporary’ Hurdle

[geovalin]

Khmer Times/Mom Kunthear

Thai immigration authorities have postponed issuing new work permits to Cambodian migrant workers who lack them from this month, but will resume doing so in August, officials at Cambodia’s Labor Ministry said. The move follows a resolution by the Thai cabinet in February requiring all migrant workers from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar who held work permits as of the end of March to renew them by the end of July, according to a statement from the public relations bureau of the Thai Labor Ministry. It said the move was being made to ensure “systematic management of foreign workers to meet international standards” and the legality of foreign workers.

A Cambodian committee in Thailand set up to assist Cambodian migrants obtain documents to work in that country will halt its services, Cambodian officials said. That committee provides undocumented Cambodian workers with passports or travel cards so that they can apply for work permits in Thailand at the 77 One Step Service centers for migrant workers. Up to 1 million Cambodians live and work in Thailand and about 40 percent of them do so illegally, according to estimates by migrant rights groups.

“Following a request from Thailand’s Ministry of Labor, the committee decided to postpone providing passports or travel cards to Cambodian workers overseas from April 1 to July 29,” said Labor Minister Ith Samheng who also chairs the committee that helps Cambodian migrant workers become legal in Thailand. Mr. Samheng said, however, that in order to ensure convenience and speed up the process of providing documents to unregistered workers, Thai authorities had agreed to Cambodia’s request to allow the committee to begin receiving applications for passports and travel cards at the One Step Service centers for migrant workers from July 1.

read more http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/24104/migrant-workers-in-thailand-face----temporary----hurdle/

[bangon04]

"according to a statement from the public relations bureau of the Thai Labor Ministry. It said the move was being made to ensure “systematic management of foreign workers to meet international standards” and the legality of foreign workers."

What a noble cause. Wonder why they are just thinking about this now?