BANGKOK, 4 April 2013 Labor Minister Padermchai Sasomsap has revealed that an extension period for issuing a permit to allow migrant workers to work legally in Thailand has been proposed while insisting that the move is not a special favor to employers.
According to Mr. Padermchai, the proposal for an extension period of 120 days has been submitted in order to allow more time for the work permit issuance process. The extension will apply to 12 registration service centers, and the proposal is expected to be considered by the Cabinet on April 9, or no later than April 23.
The Labor Minister asserted that the idea to extend the permit issuance period is not to favor any particular employers of illegal alien workers. Instead, he said the move is meant to allow extra time for officers to process legal documents, such as visa stamp, health certificate and nationality identification document issued by the country of origin.
After the registration period came to an end on March 31, there are currently more than 300,000 migrant workers who have been registered but have not been issued a legal work permit. Mr. Padermchai reaffirmed that the extension is aimed to give this group of workers a chance to obtain their permits, not to accept new registrations.
