Major boost for officials tackling illegal labour

Thailand's efforts to tackle illegal alien labour has received a major boost now that Burma has agreed to verify the nationality of the Burmese workers currently employed in Thailand.

Labour Minister Paitoon Kaewthong said Burmese authorities will start authenticating the nationality of the Burmese workers from July 15.

Burmese migrant workers can stop by for nationality certification in one of the three areas - Victoria Point, Myawaddy or Tachilek in Burma, said Mr Paitoon.

This was confirmed by Burmese Deputy Foreign Minister Maung Myint during Mr Paitoon's recent talks in Ranong.

Verifying the nationalities of migrant workers from neighbouring countries is part of the Labour Ministry's new policy on alien labour.

The ministry has set Feb 28 next year as the deadline for nationality identification for all migrant workers.

Once their countries of origin are identified, they would then have their nationalities endorsed by their respective governments.

After that process is completed, the workers would be issued a two-year work permit renewable for another two years.

Mr Paitoon said under the new labour policy, business operators will also be required to procure alien workers through channels permitted by the Labour Ministry only.

He did not elaborate.

The ministry plans to allow the import of another 10,000 Burmese workers and cut the work permit fees from 2,000 baht per head to 500 baht as an incentive for employers.

He said business operators interested in employing workers from this new batch of 10,000 could do so by having them registered at the labour offices in their provinces.

Mr Maung Myint said only around 400 Burmese workers are expected to come forward for the nationality identification process.

The number of Burmese workers, both registered and those working illegally in Thailand, is estimated at 1.2 million.

Mr Maung Myint denied rumours that Burmese authorities planned to charge a service fee for the endorsement.

To facilitate the nationality verification process, Thai officials, led by Pichai Ekpitaktamrong, chief of the Employment Department, yesterday handed over 21 computer units and related equipment to Burmese authorities for the job at Victoria Point.