BANGKOK, June 17 — Cambodian ambassador to Thailand Eat Sophea said the Cambodian authorities would encourage Cambodian nationals to return to their work in Thailand.
Ms Eat made the announcement after meeting today with Sihasak Phuangketkeow, permanent secretary for the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Mr Sihasak explained Thai policies on migrant labour to the ambassador.
The meeting followed the exodus of Cambodian workers who feared possible roundups after the May 22 coup in Thailand.
Ms Eat and Mr Sihasak held a joint press conference.
Mr Sihasak insisted that the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) did not plan any forceful eradication of migrant workers but only intended to regulate them to protect them from human trafficking and provide them with equal benefits and legal protection that Thai workers enjoyed.
He also said that the NCPO wanted to develop good relations with neighboring countries including Cambodia.
Ms Eat said the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs would spread the message to Cambodian people and encourage them to return to work in Thailand through legal channels.
Nearly 100 Cambodian workers entered Thailand from Poiplet town of Cambodia through Aranyaprathet district of Sa Kaeo province today.
Cambodia exported them legally to Thailand under their memorandum of understanding on the supply of worker. Representatives of two companies in Samut Prakan and Songkhla provinces received the Cambodian workers in Aranyaprathet.
They are the first group of Cambodian workers entering Thailand amid the exodus of their compatriots from Thailand in the past week.
