Govt rejects new verification deadline call

The government has rejected a call by activists for an extension of the nationality verification (NV) deadline for migrant workers.

Rat Burana district office in Bangkok is packed with migrant workers seeking to register on the last day of nationality verification and passport issuances yesterday. Those who fail to register by the deadline will be deported. WISIT THAMNGERN

Labour Minister Padermchai Sasomsap said Friday the deadline had been extended six times to allow migrant workers and employers to get the proper documentation.

"The deadline was extended several times and they were given months to carry out the process each time. The result has been an influx of migrant workers, which has hampered efforts to better protect their rights and their welfare benefits," Mr Padermchai said.

The previous deadline for NV registration was June 14 this year.

Mr Padermchai said tough action will be taken against illegal migrant workers and employers now that the NV registration has ended.

The NV scheme is the government's attempt to place all migrant workers under a legal framework to prepare for the Asean Economic Community in 2015. It is intended to prevent accusations of using child labour, abuse and the hiring of illegal immigrants.

Pol Lt Gen Panu Kerdlarppol, chief of the Immigration Police Bureau, yesterday pledged to deport migrant workers who do not have the proper documents, saying they would be sent to detention centres in the border provinces before being returned home.

He assured that immigration authorities will respect the rights of immigrant workers and treat them with dignity.

"Detention facilities are properly equipped. They are not prison cells. The workers are provided with proper food and shelter.

"They are treated when sick and visited by human right workers and authorities from their countries," he said.

According to Pol Lt Gen Panu, there are millions of migrant workers and after yesterday's NV registration deadline hundreds of thousands will continue working in the country illegally.

The Immigration Police Bureau yesterday organised a workshop for business operators to talk about the legal consequences of hiring illegal labour.

Patarawut Persaelah, of the Employment Department, suggested that employers hand over migrant workers who fail to register with the immigration police to be deported.

He said if employers wanted to keep their workers, they were advised to submit a request seeking to bring in these workers, specifying their names.

"After these workers are sent back, the Labour Ministry will coordinate with the embassies asking them to issue passports. It will take about 30 days," Mr Patarawut said.

Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/326252/govt-rejects-new-verification-deadline-call