Thousands of migrant workers head home

[rooster59]

Thousands of migrant workers head home

By The Sunday Nation

 

Cambodian workers arrive at Aranyaprathet in Sa Kaew Friday to cross the border back to their motherland.

 

New labour law causes panic but many expect to return with valid documents 

 

Several tens of thousands of  Cambodian and Myanmar migrant workers have left Thailand from various border checkpoints in a bid to obtain proper document in their home towns before re-entering the country for work.

 

In the Thai province of Sa Kaew, several thousand Cambodians sought to return home to apply for passports so that they could come back to work here legally as required by the new Thai foreign labour law. The stricter law has prompted some employers to stop hiring illegal migrants.

 

According to the new foreign labour law, employers of illegal migrants could face a hefty fine of Bt400,000-Bt800,000 per migrant worker if found to have violated the law. The government said enforcement of the law will be suspended for a 120-day period, starting June 23, to allow time for all parties concerned to comply with new requirements.

 

Pol Colonel Benjapol Rodsawad, the Sa Kaew immigration chief, said Cambodian migrant workers voluntarily turned themselves in at the border checkpoint to be handed over to Cambodian authorities. Some Cambodians said their previous employers wanted them to leave due to the hefty penalties under the new law, while many said they wanted to apply for Cambodian passports so that they could return to work here legally.

 

On June 28-29, immigration authorities also reported that a total of 546 Cambodians were detained for illegal entry into Thailand, including those detained by immigration offices in Saraburi, Ayuthaya, Samut Prakan and Pattani provinces.

 

Under the new foreign labour law, migrant workers are also subject to heavy penalties, including a fine of Bt2,000-Bt100,000 per person and/or imprisonment of up to five years, if arrested by Thai authorities for working here without proper permits.

 

Myanmar authorities in Myawaddy province opposite Thailand’s Mae Sot district of Tak province have opened a temporary facility to accommodate more than 10,000 returnees from Thailand at the border crossing.

 

Returnees are also offered food and shelter as they prepare to travel back to their hometowns. At least, 8,491 Myanmar workers are reported to have left Thailand over the past few days, while Myanmar authorities said they welcome returnees and no legal action would be taken.

 

Pol Colonel Passakorn Kwanwan, the Mae Sot police chief, said the Thai police would face disciplinary and other actions if they demand bribes from returnees.

 

However, business operators in Mae Sot have complained of labour shortage resulting from heavy penalties under the new law since about 90 per cent of workers in the area are illegal migrant workers

 

Chaiwat Withit-thammawong, an adviser of Tak province’s chamber of commerce, said the new law is good for Thailand in the long run in terms of tackling problems resulting from a large number of illegal migrant workers in the country. 

 

The next step is to require employers and migrant workers to register properly but the government has to ensure that the process is fast and convenient while expenses are not high, Chaiwat said.

 

The fisheries industry also reported a severe shortage of labour due to enforcement of the new law.

 

Meanwhile, two Myanmar workers were injured when a bus taking them from Mae Sot to Samut Sakhon province veered off the road in Angthong province early Saturday.

 

The accident happened at 4am on the Bangkok-bound Asia highway in Moo 3, Tambon Lakfah, in the province’s Chaiyo district, said Pol-Lieutenant Chatchai Chaiya of Chaiyo police station.

 

The bus driver, Pinchai Thongsakul, 47, admitted that he had dozed off, causing the bus to veer off for about 100 metres. A Myanmar man suffered from back pain and a pregnant Myanmar woman suffered from vaginal bleeding. The two were rushed to the Chaiyo district hospital.

 

Pinchai said he had taken 26 Myanmar men and 22 women by bus from Samut Sakhon to renew their passport across the Mae Sot border and he was returning with them to Samut Sakhon when the accident happened.

 

Meanwhile in Tak, three police officers were removed from their posts and assigned  guard duty at Mae Sot Police Station, after a video clip showed them asking for bribes from Myanmar migrant workers.

 

Pol-Colonel Passakorn Klanwan, Mae Sot Police superintendent, revealed that the committee to investigate this issue has already been set up and if these three police officers are found guilty, there will be swift punishment according to the law.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30319673

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-07-02

[The Old Bull]

Might have to pay better wages?

[ezzra]

Without those foreign workers, many industries in Thailand will grind to

a screeching halt, as Thai workers now days has elevated themselves beyond

manual labor and all the hard dirty toll is now on the shoulders of those

people from the surrounding countries....

[johng]

Thai workers now days has elevated themselves beyond
manual labor and all the hard dirty toll is now on the shoulders of those
people from the surrounding countries....

I don't blame the Thai (or anyone else) for not wanting to do back breaking hard physical and sometimes very dangerous work under the blazing sun
with 80% humidity for less than 300 baht per day !

Quite often the migrant labourers are not paid for the last few months as a project nears completion..then "out of the blue" immigration and labour officials show up to deport them....I wonder if the labourers get their paypacket ?

[sweatalot]

1 hour ago, johng said:

 

I don't blame the Thai (or anyone else) for not wanting to do back breaking hard physical and sometimes very dangerous work under the blazing sun
with 80% humidity for less than 300 baht per day !

Quite often the migrant labourers are not paid for the last few months as a project nears completion..then "out of the blue" immigration and labour officials show up to deport them....I wonder if the labourers get their paypacket ?

 

""out of the blue" immigration and labour officials show up to deport them....I wonder if the labourers get their paypacket ?"

 

I hope having correct documents the migrant workers will be  safe from this fraud

and will have  fairer wages   (I don't dare to say fair wages...)

[DavisH]

2 hours ago, ezzra said:

Without those foreign workers, many industries in Thailand will grind to

a screeching halt, as Thai workers now days has elevated themselves beyond

manual labor and all the hard dirty toll is now on the shoulders of those

people from the surrounding countries....

Thais generally work in factories. The work is easier and less dirty. There will definitely be effects across many other industries. It's fair enough. If I need to jump through hoops every year to stay legal, why shouldn't laborers? It's obvious many of of them don't even have passports and are thus subjected to lower wages and poor treatment by their bosses. Now the besses have to get them legal or try to get Thais to do those jobs. Good luck with that:)

Edited July 2, 2017 by DavisH

[Lupatria]

Does it mean the Thais will have to build the planned tower in Bangkok by themselves?

[cdohrman]

knowing that Cambodians have to pay 100s of USDs to 'pay' for a Cambodian passport (and they can only get it in 'expensive' Phnom Penh), it will take a long time till they will be back (officially). However, I guess, after some protests by the big construction companies and their customers who pay miln's of THB for their property, there will be soon a Thai solution to that when we do not hear of it anymore. 

[KBsinter]

7 hours ago, rooster59 said:

and if these three police officers are found guilty, there will be swift punishment according to the law.

Some hopes, what utter nonsense................... 

[thaibeachlovers]

I hope this puts an end to the scam voluntourism industry that is ripping off farang tourists that pay companies to "volunteer" in Thailand.

 

According to immigration, one has to have a work permit to "volunteer". Remember, even jamming in a night club is classified as "working".

[Cadbury]

7 hours ago, johng said:

 

I don't blame the Thai (or anyone else) for not wanting to do back breaking hard physical and sometimes very dangerous work under the blazing sun
with 80% humidity for less than 300 baht per day !

Quite often the migrant labourers are not paid for the last few months as a project nears completion..then "out of the blue" immigration and labour officials show up to deport them....I wonder if the labourers get their paypacket ?

 

Uncollected paypackets go to the Management Social Club fund.

[the guest]

7 hours ago, ezzra said:

Without those foreign workers, many industries in Thailand will grind to

a screeching halt, as Thai workers now days has elevated themselves beyond

manual labor and all the hard dirty toll is now on the shoulders of those

people from the surrounding countries....

 

Yeah, just like the USA & Europe 

[Cadbury]

3 hours ago, cdohrman said:

knowing that Cambodians have to pay 100s of USDs to 'pay' for a Cambodian passport (and they can only get it in 'expensive' Phnom Penh), it will take a long time till they will be back (officially). However, I guess, after some protests by the big construction companies and their customers who pay miln's of THB for their property, there will be soon a Thai solution to that when we do not hear of it anymore. 

The highly gifted PM Prayut said the other day he would fix any problems.

The day before it was twerking dancers and tomorrow it will be footpaths and bicycle lanes. No problem too big or too small.

 

[dinsdale]

This is the real human trafficking. Pity they all don't go home. Bring Thailand to it's knees. Probably still enough money in the kitty for a few more subs though.

[kaorop]

Just now, dinsdale said:

This is the real human trafficking. Pity they all don't go home. Bring Thailand to it's knees. Probably still enough money in the kitty for a few more subs though.

obviously just a fantasy but i would be nice to see the reaction if every foreigner on some short term visa left this country for a year.

only then would the public at large see exactly what they/we contribute.

[Laab Muu]

7 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I hope this puts an end to the scam voluntourism industry that is ripping off farang tourists that pay companies to "volunteer" in Thailand.

 

According to immigration, one has to have a work permit to "volunteer". Remember, even jamming in a night club is classified as "working".

That's incorrect, if you are not being paid, then playing a musical instrument is for leisure. It doesn't matter the venue, it's like saying you need a work permit to sing karaoke.

Edited July 2, 2017 by Laab Muu

[Laab Muu]

12 minutes ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

Volunteering definitely requires a work permit in Thailand. There's no doubt about that. 

Absolutely it does, but playing a musical instrument in public when not for personal gain certainly doesn't.

[farmerjo]

It will be a blow to the ageing agriculture sector.

[Na Lee]

That's incorrect, if you are not being paid, then playing a musical instrument is for leisure. It doesn't matter the venue, it's like saying you need a work permit to sing karaoke.

How nou know? You certainly talk bs. Try to play the guitar in the street or market when the police come checking you and you say I play for leisure you will find out what will happen to you. My own experience Mr. Laab Moo.!!!!!


Sent from my BLL-L22 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[chickenrunCM]

2 hours ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

Volunteering definitely requires a work permit in Thailand. There's no doubt about that. 

you dont need a work permit if you play music for fin like jamming or open mic night, all this stupid information and rumors what the people post here is anoying, get a life and stop posting lies

[chickenrunCM]

20 minutes ago, Na Lee said:

How nou know? You certainly talk bs. Try to play the guitar in the street or market when the police come checking you and you say I play for leisure you will find out what will happen to you. My own experience Mr. Laab Moo.!!!!!


Sent from my BLL-L22 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

and what happend? nothing, may be they force you to stop because you playing terrible. 

How long you not have a hat or something there for collecting money nothing happens.

[chickenrunCM]

2 hours ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

Volunteering definitely requires a work permit in Thailand. There's no doubt about that. 

volunteering requires only a work permit if you do it for a company or organisation, if you do it alone then you need nothing.

[SiamBeast]

What a cruel world... forcing employers to pay wages that allow employees to not starve. Sad. #not

[Laab Muu]

1 hour ago, Na Lee said:

How nou know? You certainly talk bs. Try to play the guitar in the street or market when the police come checking you and you say I play for leisure you will find out what will happen to you. My own experience Mr. Laab Moo.!!!!!


Sent from my BLL-L22 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

You should learn to read English. Since when is a nightclub a street or market? To jam in a nightclub with other musicians free of charge does not require a work permit. It's the same as getting on stage and singing a karaoke song, you don't need a work permit for that either strangely enough.

[oldlakey]

On 7/2/2017 at 1:00 AM, The Old Bull said:

Might have to pay better wages?

Plus show them a little respect might help

[oldlakey]

9 hours ago, kaorop said:

obviously just a fantasy but i would be nice to see the reaction if every foreigner on some short term visa left this country for a year.

only then would the public at large see exactly what they/we contribute.

There are none so blind as those who wont see