Thai Immigration Policy Scares Migrants

The new measures, aimed at tightening up on illegal migration, require migrant workers in Thailand from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia to verify their nationalities for new work permits.

The measures will affect over one million migrant workers from Myanmar-- also known as Burma -- and some 200,000 migrant workers from Laos and Cambodia.

The Thai government is requiring all of them to enter the process of renewing their documents by February 28, or face the threat of deportation.Over one million work permits held by migrant workers from Myanmar expire after the deadline.

Fear of harassment

While Cambodia and Laos have agreed to allow their officials to come to Thailand to assist their nationals, Myanmar’s military government refused; instead, its migrant workers must cross the border to process their documentation.

Myint Wai, deputy director of the Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma, says many migrant workers fear harassment by Myanmar officials when they return. "If they do not apply before February 28, they will be sent back. The people who apply, will have their permits extended for two years. The main problem is that people are suspicious of the Burmese government officials inside Burma. And that is why many people will not go for that process."

Illegal workers

Thai government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn says the government has tried to be flexible, but there are concerns over national security due to the rising numbers of illegal migrants in Thailand.

"The National Security Council has been working on this policy of illegal migration for many years and for the first time they have been able to implement it under this government. Over the past years, they have estimated more than three million illegal workers have come to Thailand. I think the situation would have become very critical, had they not begun to implement this kind of policies."

Panitan says laws have been adjusted to grant an extension of two years because the need for foreign workers in Thailand has been recognized.

Migrant workers needed

Migrant workers from Myanmar generally work in industries largely shunned by Thai workers, such as construction, the fishing industry and rubber plantations. Women from Myanmar often work in factories or as domestic servants.

Besides the fear of harassment if they return to Myanmar, labour rights activists point to the high costs faced by the migrant workers – as much as two months’ wages – to process all the documents as well as work time lost in travel.

Thetis Mangahas, a migration specialist with the United Nations’ International Labor Organization, says, "fundamentally you really have inconsistency here. You see a policy that is so much led by the security concerns; but there needs to be a reconciliation between the need of keeping migrants in good jobs and policies which seem to simply want to send migrants back."

But Thai authorities said this week that officials from Myanmar had given assurances of assistance to migrant workers. Myanmar authorities had also said any officials found attempting to extort money would face arrest.

Author:Ron Corben (Bangkok)
Editor: Grahame Lucas