Thailand to help Cambodian migrant workers with expired visas

The Employment Department will hold a meeting with security agencies and the employment offices in border provinces on Friday, to develop measures to assist thousands of Cambodian migrant workers whose visas and work permits have expired, but they are unable to return to Cambodia to renew them.

The department’s director general, Somchai Morakotsriwan, said that these people, who are scattered across Chanthaburi and Trat provinces, want to continue working in Thailand, but cannot renew their visas due to the closure of the Thai-Cambodian border.

He also said that Thai businesses who employ these workers will be affected if they leave the country. The results of the meeting tomorrow will be submitted to the Employment Policy Committee.

Meanwhile, it is reported that the Employment Department will introduce E-work permit services on August 1st, so migrant workers can apply for them online, even when they are abroad.

To facilitate the renewal of permits, the Employment Department will set up service centres in 40 locations and deploy eight mobile service units.

Meanwhile, a Cambodian worker in Klong Yai district of Trat province told Thai PBS that a number of his countrymen, including himself, want to return home, because it is now the low season and many restaurants on Chang Island close out of season.

He said he has some savings, which will be sufficient to live on in Cambodia during the rainy season and to return to work on Chang Island when the tourism season arrives. He added that there is no work for him in Cambodia.

Border crossing restrictions at all check points along Thai-Cambodian border, imposed since June 23rd, have affected many Thai businesses in Cambodia, according to Kriangkrai Thiennukul, president of the Federation of Thai Industries.

He said the Thai businesses are now relying on goods shipped to Cambodia by sea, instead over land, and the costs are about six times higher.

The Chanthaburi-Trat Border Protection Command opened the border yesterday to allow a Cambodian emergency patient and two escorts into Thailand through the check point in Ban Laem, Pong Namron district, so he can receive medical treatment at a hospital in Chanthaburi province