General Prawit Emphasizes MOL’s Role on Creating Awareness of Legal Migration

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         Labour Minister General Sirichai Distakul, Permanent Secretary of Labour M.L. Puntrik Smiti, the ministry’s executive committee and relevant units participated in the meeting which took place at the Nikom Chandravithun conference room on the fifth floor. The meeting focused on 2 measures; the first was for relevant units to operate according to the duties set out by the committee. In doing so, the Ministry of Labour will act as the main party in coordinating with relevant units for effective foreign worker management. The second measure was on extending the time period allowing migrant workers in the fishing and seafood processing industry (Burmese, Laotian and Cambodian nationals) to remain in Thailand. The committee concluded for the units on stability to conduct inspections, apprehend and prosecute employers or agents illegally smuggling labour into the kingdom. These units will also be responsible for creating awareness and sharing information on legal worker migration. At present, there are specific measures to monitor and prevent deception from agents, as well as the setting of fair service fees for companies migrating workers into the country.
    During the meeting, Labour Minister General Sirichai Distakul said, “Within 2017, the citizenship verification process will be sped up and measures will be designed for better collaboration with Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. Arrangement of accommodation or zoning for foreign workers has become of interest to many private companies looking to join the Ministry of Labour’s project. A plan was formulated to support and replace the 1.2 migrant workers who will have their work permits expired on 31 March 2018. The Ministry of Labour will take all issues into consideration in designing an action plan for successful execution.”
The Department of Employment’s Director-General Mr. Singhadet Chu-umnart added, “The meeting has acknowledged obstacles in citizenship verification for workers in the fishing industry upon expiration of their work permits on 31 January 2017 and the seafood processing industry expiring on 22 February 2017. The meeting concurred to extend the residing and working period for current migrant workers in the fishing and seafood processing industry, to 1 November 2017 in order to align with the citizenship verification process in origin countries.”
For more information, contact any provincial employment office, Bangkok employment offices or the 1694 hotline.