TAK, 17 June 2014 (NNT) -Tak province has explained to migrant workers with legal work permits that they can continue to work in Thailand as normal, following the misunderstanding which caused thousands of workers to flee Thailand, resulted in a labour shortage in some areas.
Col Therdsak Ngamsanong, Commander of the 4th Infantry Regiment Taskforce, said that the earlier arrest of illegal migrant labourers along Tak’s border was ordered only to suppress crimes and human trafficking. So, the migrant labourers who hold legal work permits should not be afraid and should continue working as normal. The flight home of the labourers has led to a labour shortage, affecting construction projects and the agricultural sector in Mae Sod district.
The Director General of the Department of Employment Pravit Khiengpol, said that labourers who commute across the border daily to work on farms will be encouraged to come back to work as normal. However, migrant labourers who work at construction sites will need to have legal licenses to work inside the country. To solve the issue, a one-stop service for work permit arrangements for the second group of labourers will be provided at Aranyaprathet in Sakaeo, Chantaburi and Trat border checkpoints at the end of this month. –
The Royal Thai Police have restated that Thailand doesn’t have any policy to repatriate Cambodian laborers, and is accelerating investigations into the origin of this rumor. Narathiwat province organizes an OTOP fair in Kota Bharu , Malaysia in a bid to promote good relationship between Narathiwat OTOP producers and Malaysian traders in preparation for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). The Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center (SBPAC), along with relevant agencies, is prepared to organize the Yala Halal Street event every month from now, starting this June 20-21, with an aim to promote halal products. The Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) is set to ship its first cargo to the port of Yangon in Myanmar, this August. According to a survey by Abac Poll, most people who went to the see the free showing of the film “The Legend of King Naresuan 5” arranged by the NCPO came away feeling happy. Good progress has been made in promoting better understanding between conflicting parties and among people holding, for years, different views on political and social issues in the Thai society. The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) is content with the process and the results of activities held to promote peace and unity in the kingdom, while urging the public not to consume information on social networking sites. Col Banpot Phunpian said on Tuesday, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has set up a new committee to oversee reconciliation and reform. People can follow the news, announcements, or provide information to the National Council for Peace and Order at http://www.thaigov.go.th,
Around 1000 Myanmar migrant workers have been detained in Thailand from June 3 to 9, according to the Joint Action Committee for Burma Affairs (JACBA).
Most of the workers were detained in Tak Province, including the border town of Mae Sot, after the military government oversaw a crackdown on illegal migrant workers.
As the military, immigration officials and border security forces continue to arrest undocumented workers from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, many illegal Myanmar workers have resorted to hiding in the jungle, plantations and or safe apartments.
The Thai government has announced that it will hand over detained Myanmar migrant workers across the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, according to a government owned newspaper. On June 13, it handed over 52 Myanmar migrant workers back to Tachilek Township in Shan State.
Authorities were targeting Myanmar workers without temporary passports, work permits or valid documents.
Thailand has more than three million Myanmar migrant workers, about half of whom are reportedly working illegally.
democracy for burma 
You must be logged in to post a comment.