Col. Sirichai Distakul
(center right), armed forces chief of joint staff and chairman of the
Sub-Committee on Transnational Labor and Human Trafficking, inspects the
registration process for foreign workers at Huay Yai’s one-stop center
in the Eastern National Sports Training Center.
Urasin Khantaraphan
The National Council for Peace and Order has opened two one-stop service
centers, one each in Huay Yai and Bangsai, to help Chonburi employers
register and legalize their illegal migrant laborers.
Col. Sirichai Distakul, armed forces chief of joint staff and chairman
of the Sub-Committee on Transnational Labor and Human Trafficking,
joined envoys from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar to inspect both of the
Laborers One-Stop Service Centers in Chonburi July 7, welcomed by Gov.
Khomsan Ekachai.
The delegation reviewed registration forms, the medical-check process,
and visa-issuance procedure.
Migrant workers wait for
their turn to register and become legal workers in Thailand.
Khomsan said the first day at the Eastern National
Sports Training Center in Huay Yai saw 34 employers take advantage of
the service. Registered were 25 Burmese men and 13 women, most of whom
worked in construction or as maids. Three Laotians, and 595 Cambodians -
322 men and 257 women and 16 children - also were registered.
The envoy visited the second center in Chonburi the same day, although
no official figures were reported.
Two happy workers show off
their new I.D. cards.
A pilot center opened first in Samut Sakhon Province
June 30, issuing temporary working visas to migrant laborers. Judged as
successful, the center has been replicated in Chonburi, Rayong,
Ayutthaya, Chachoengsao, Surat Thani and Songkhla.
Fishing companies were given until July 21 to register their foreign
crews.
Anan Pongsa, owner of the Koon-anan Supply Cooperative, said her
recruiting firm originally employed more than 1,000 migrant workers, but
700 fled after the NCPO announced a crackdown on illegal workers.
She said she registered 80 workers, but will take a loss on them, as she
is absorbing all the cost of the fees in hopes they’ll stay on the job.
Thida Ok, 28, of Cambodia, said she has been working as a maid for
Billion Enterprise Co. and was pleased the company chose to legalize
her. She said she earns 10,000 baht a month, about 4,000 baht more than
she can farming rice at home.
Her only complaint is that the temporary visa is only for 60 days. She
wants the NCPO to allow it to be extended.
Khomsan said the one-stop center at the Eastern National Sports Training
Center in Huay Yai is responsible for the registration of migrant
workers in Banglamung, Sriracha, Sattahip, Bothong, Nong Yai, Koh
Sichang and Koh Chan districts. The one-stop center at the
Chalermprakiet Pavilion in Bangsai is responsible for the registration
of migrant workers in Panat Nikhom, Panthong, Muang and Banbung
districts.
Chonburi is expecting to register about 500 workers per day in each
center through Aug. 6.
The Chonburi Public Relations Department contributed to this report.
