Migrant workers to be made legal

Yesterday the Cabinet approved in principle an Interior Ministry policy to pardon all illegal migrant workers in Thailand and require them to register with authorities after next February.

Once registered, the around 2 million or so migrant workers will be allowed to work in the sectors of fishery, marine food processing, farming, livestock, construction and domestic services. Getting them registered is a move to stop more from entering Thailand and working illegally.

All workers will be allowed to work illegally in Thailand until February 28, 2010. After that they will be required to register with provincial labour offices, apply for medical checkups and pay health insurance fees, before applying for a work permit. A national joint effort by police, the military and civilian authorities will begin before the deadline to keep more migrants from entering Thailand.