On 20 April 2017, Labour Minister General Sirichai Distakul chaired the subcommittee meeting for coordination of foreign worker issues for the first time this year, which took place at the Nikom Chandravithun Conference Room. The Labour Minister then assigned the Department of Employment’s Director-General Mr. Woranon Pitiwan to lead the press release on the meeting’s conclusions.
After the meeting, Mr. Woranon explained that the meeting had given consensus to the establishment of a subcommittee to drive the foreign worker management strategies for 2017-2021 and another subcommittee to monitor and evaluate subsequent progress. The meeting further considered solutions for seasonal labour shortages in the agricultural industry within non-borderline provinces, agreeing to add critical provinces such as Rayong, Prachinburi and Lumphoon to allow workers under Section 14 to travel between provinces on a seasonal basis. However, the meeting members remained concerned about security issues as most foreign workers are yet to receive permanent travel documents. This issue will also need to be presented to committee on anti-human trafficking policies in May. If approved, the issue will be proposed to the Cabinet.
The meeting reported statistics of foreign workers returning home during the Songkran festival this year; a total of 107,908 foreign workers were approved for travels, where 47,556 have already returned. The last day of returns will be 30 April 2017, whereby foreign workers who fail to meet the deadline must apply for entry and work permits again. Thorough inspections will be conducted to prevent illegal employment. If employers are found to employ workers returning after April 30, penalties will be inflicted. The drafting of the Foreign Worker Management Act B.E…… is expected to be finalized this May, where new fines will be inflicted ranging from 400,000 Baht to 800,000 Baht, and 800,000 Baht to 2 million Baht for violation of child labour and slavery cases.
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Bureau of Public Relations /
