Crackdown on unregistered workers begins

On 30 August, the Thai Police, immigration officials and militia started arresting illegal workers in Mae Sod, Thai-Burma border, reported Network Media Group.

The crackdown began on the last day of extension, from June to August, of immigrant workers registration, issued by the Thai Labor Ministry. 

Arrested workers included odd-job holders, laborers and road-workers, who did not have work-permits from municipalities.

“Five or six of my colleagues were arrested at a junction and there are police at crossroads,” said Ko Lin, a road-worker form Mae Tao village, Mae Sod.

Workers who do not have work permits are sent by their employers to Myawaddy to avoid the arrests.  Not only the workers but also employers, if caught for employing illegal workers, will be fined and sentenced.

“Burmese workers who don’t have work permits find it difficult to get jobs, while those who have them do not easy to renew the permits due to insufficient funds and those who are new immigrants cannot register,” said Ko Chet Gyi from Yaung Chi Oo Workers Association that has been helping immigrant workers.

Although there were 0.8 million registered foreign workers last year, there are only 0.6 million this year, reported by Network Media Group.