Thai rights for Cambodian illegal workers
- From: "Chim" <ChimS1@xxxxxxx>
- Date: 19 Nov 2005 10:45:25 -0800
Thai rights for illegal workers
By Cheang Sokha
A bilateral registration program aimed at ensuring equal rights for the
roughly 183,000 Cambodians working illegally in Thailand has resumed
after a controversial nine-month hiatus.
Now, for a 500 baht ($12.50) fee workers will be able to register to
work legally in Thailand for two years, and under full protection of
Thai labor laws.
The registration program, which was slated to begin in March 2005, has
been stymied by "technical problems," a Ministry of Labor official
said. So far only 77 illegal Cambodian workers have been registered.
Seng Sakda, general director at the Ministry of Labor, said his
organization began processing registrations on November 14 after
receiving approval from the Thai Labor Ministry on October 31. He said
the program may take more than six months to complete.
The Cambodian government had arranged for a company to process the
registrations on November 1, but the arrangement was delayed by a Thai
partner who wanted to announce the companies and arrange the
accommodation, Sakda said.
He explained that in the past Cambodians had either entered Thailand
covertly or were taken there by illegitimate labor bosses. They then
worked in the country illegally and without recognition from Thai
authorities.
"Illegal workers live in fear of arrest by Thai authorities and get
underpaid by their employers," Sakda said.
Sok San, secretary of state at the Ministry of Labor, said that on
October 31 the Cambodian working group went to Bangkok to discuss
resuming the registration of Cambodian laborers in Thailand.
San said that previously there had been many problems for Cambodians
who chose to work in Thailand illegally. Most importantly, they were
not recognized as citizens by their employers and were not allowed
legal representation when they had disputes.
Once Cambodian workers are registered in the new program, they will be
working legally, protected by Thai labor laws and ensured proper
working conditions.
"It is a great benefit for our workers to have equal rights like Thai
workers and have the right to work in Thailand for two years," San
said.
San said most Cambodian laborers work on farms, fishing boats and
factories. They are often underpaid and overworked. Illegal Cambodian
labor forces have been documented in all Thai provinces.
He said Thai workers received a minimum wage of about 7,000 baht ($170)
a month, but some Cambodian laborers got only 4,000 baht ($97) and most
were cheated by their Thai employers.
Songchai Chaipatiyut, First Secretary at the Thai Embassy in Phnom
Penh, said the registration program was meant to be completed by the
end of 2005. But, he added, the process would take time.
"We try to legalize illegal workers in Thailand - who they are or what
their nationalities are - we verify them and they will have the same
rights and the protection as Thai workers," Chaipatiyut said.
He said the Thai government was using the same registration process
with Myanmar and Lao nationals to verify their nationalities and
establish what they called a "temporary passport" for workers.
According to Chaipatiyut, the negotiations between Thailand and
Myanmar, which has the most illegal workers in Thailand, is far behind
the negotiations with Cambodia and Laos.
Pich Saran, Poipet immigration police chief, said about 4,000 to 5,000
Cambodians cross the Poipet border each day. They enter Thailand in the
morning and return in the evening. Some work as laborers and others
operate shops in Thai markets.
Saran said hundreds of people slip into Thailand to work illegally, but
when they are caught they are arrested by Thai soldiers. After a period
of detention they are usually returned to Cambodia.
A daily return worker and Poipet resident, Eath Savay, 20, works in a
shoe factory two kilometers inside the Thai border. He said that
although he could find a job in Cambodia, it was easier to find work in
Thailand.
"I like my boss in Thailand," he said.
* (Additional reporting by Markus Bernsen)
Phnom Penh Post, Issue 14/23, November 19 - December 1, 2005
© Michael Hayes, 2005. All rights revert to authors and artists on
publication.
For permission to publish any part of this publication, contact Michael
Hayes, Editor-in-Chief
http://www.PhnomPenhPost.com - Any comments on the website to Webmaster
.
- Prev by Date: Politics may have impacted selection of Khmer football team to play in Manila
- Next by Date: Expert says Buddhist bird release may pose health risks
- Previous by thread: Politics may have impacted selection of Khmer football team to play in Manila
- Next by thread: Expert says Buddhist bird release may pose health risks
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
|
