Workers extorted as they flee Thai crackdown

[geovalin]

(...)

 

A temporary receiving station for illegal migrant workers, set up in Poipet and manned by NGOs and local authorities, is providing advice about working legally in Thailand and the proper procedures for applying for passports and employment visas. Workers are also being provided with assistance to enable them to return to their homes.

 

At the station, many workers angrily alleged they had to pay bribes up to three times on their way to Cambodia. Some claimed they had to pay several hundred bahts  each to the police as transport charges, while others said they were extorted even higher by Thai officers.

 

The workers said they were not informed as to why they had to pay the fees and there were no explanations nor exceptions for any worker trying to get back through Poipet. Phun Thea, 42, from Banteay Meanchey province, said she had been working on a construction site with her husband since they made the move to Thailand in early 2015 without passports.

 

read more http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/39942/workers-extorted--as-they-flee-thai-crackdown/

 

 

-- © Copyright Khmer Times 04/07

[whatawonderfulday]

Extortion and exploitation go hand in hand in Thailand whilst  the security mafias of the RTA and RTP to name 2  are supported by the Elite and the Junta.  As I said many times before "to kill a snake you need to cut it's head off".

Edited July 4, 2017 by whatawonderfulday

[steveyinasia]

I guess they didn't get the memo from the police chief about not extorting migrant workers.

[henry15]

If they did come the legal  way with passport en WP, theire would be no reason to extort them.

 

[natway09]

As I said in an earlier post the eyes lit up on these so called officials the moment they saw the new law come

into effect. 

[phantomfiddler]

Hopefully this will not pan out, but I was told today that the powers above are planning a major crackdown on any farangs who have anything to do with any bar in Pattaya. Be warned and be careful.

[snooky]

.Years ago, I drove a bus between Los Angeles and Tijuana, Mexico and often had migrant workers going back to their homes.  I heard many stories from them about the Mexican authorities demanding part of their saved wages - not only after they got through the border, but on the trains/buses headed south.  By the time they got to their homes, they were lucky to have even half of their many months wages left to give to their families.  So unfortunately, it happens other places besides here. 

[Boss]

Disgusting mentality ripping off people who already have very little. 

[sawadeeken]

And it angers me greatly that the head of all this corruption, an un-elected 'head of state'...... Is going to be welcomed soon into My country's White House......... I wish 'we' could get Trump out of there so it wouldn't happen............

[hawker9000]

Thais exploiting foreigners.  What a surprise.