The Nation on 3 February 2018,<\/p>\n
STARTING from Monday, the government will open counter services for migrant workers to register their visa applications in every province.<\/p>\n
Labour Minister Police General Adul Sangsingkeo revealed the plan yesterday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be a one-stop-service for workers whose nationality is yet to be verified and to seek work permits,\u201d said Atisthan Phanfak, who works at the Ubon Ratchathani-based employment agency.<\/p>\n
She said this counter service will open from 8.30am to 4.30pm from February to March 31, except on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays.<\/p>\n
At present, about 3.8 million Myanmar, Cambodian and Laotian workers earn a living in Thailand. Of the total, about 1.8 million work here legally.<\/p>\n
Thai authorities are now trying to legalise all migrant workers, by encouraging them and their employers to undergo proper registration.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut at this point, some 800,000 have not yet completed their nationality verification process,\u201d Adul said.<\/p>\n
Of the 800,000 workers, 400,000 are Cambodians, 100,000 are Laotians, and more than 300,000 are Myanmar nationals.<\/p>\n
He said relevant parties were now trying to expedite the process, reducing the time required from 10 hours to six hours.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will improve coordination channels among relevant authorities so as to ensure migrant workers can have their nationality verified before the June 30 deadline,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Adul was speaking after attending a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwon and relevant officials.<\/p>\n
Prawit recommended increasing the number of officials and devices for the process to legalise migrant workers.<\/p>\n
Labour Ministry permanent secretary, Jarin Chakkaphark, said the process was important because it was a way to prevent human trafficking, child labour and forced labour.<\/p>\n
During his meeting with Heng Samrin, the president of Cambodia\u2019s National Legislative Assembly yesterday, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha also asked Heng Samrin for help in expediting the process of verifying Cambodian workers\u2019 nationality, according to Deputy Government Spokesman Lt-General Werachon Sukondhapatipak.<\/p>\n
Werachon said Heng Samrin during the meeting thanked the Thai government for taking care of Cambodian workers.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Source:\u00a0http:\/\/www.nationmultimedia.com\/detail\/national\/30337834<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"