Permanent Secretary of Labour M.L. Puntrik Smiti explained that today (7 August 2017) is the last days that the reporting centers for migrant worker management will operate, since it’s kick-off on 24 July 2017. The Permanent Secretary urged organizations/employers to report their undocumented migrant workers within today, as after today, there will be no other opportunity for registration. On 8 August 2017, the employer-employee relationship verification process will commence and run on for 30 days (8 August to 6 September 2017). Employers/organizations which have received cue cards are urged to show up promptly at the specified date and time. She said that employers who are juristic persons or have large population of migrant workers, should prepare employment agreements, evidence of wage payment and other evidence to verify the employer-employee relationship. Officers will also check if the migrant workers are under 15 or not over 18 years or if the workers are employed in unprohibited industries. The Permanent Secretary of Labour affirmed the ministry’s readiness to service visitors and facilitate every convenience. Affiliated units involved include the Office of the Permanent Secretary, the Department of Employment, the Department of Skills Development, the Department of Welfare and Labour Protection and the Social Security Office. In Bangkok 20 units will be open for service alongside another 60 in other provinces.
M.L. Puntrik continued explaining that the current opening of centers is a grace period for employers with undocumented migrant workers to apply for necessary documentation and obtain legal status. Thailand’s efforts have been commended by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Office of Migration (IOM).
The total number of applications from undocumented migrant workers as of 7 August 2017 at 10.00 (from 24 July to 7 August 2017) has reached 184,546 employers with 659,004 migrant workers. From this statistic, 381,945 were Burmese, 192,964 were Cambodian and 84,095 were Laotian. The top 3 industries were construction, agriculture and livestock and food and beverages.
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Bureau of Public Relations
7 August 2017
Kantipon Kusmit – News
Sompob Silbut – Photos
