A group of Myanmar workers in Thailand-Myanmar border, near Rangnong port city of Thailand (Source: Reuters)Hanoi (VNA) – Tens of thousands of foreign workers in Thailand returned homedespite the Thai Government suspending a new labour law which was announced onJune 23.
Asof July 5, 34,069 Myanmar workers in Thailand had returned home, reported theMinistry of Labour, Immigration and Population of Myanmar.
Theministry also said that the two countries’ governments have held talks to grantlegal documents for the workers. About one million illegal and four millionlegal Myanmar workers were in Thailand, according to Xinhua News Agency.
IthSamheng, Cambodian Minister of Labour and Vocational Training announced thatabout 4,000 labourers had returned from Thailand since June 23 over fears ofbeing arrested under the new labour law. There were approximately 1.05 millionCambodian workers in Thailand, including 300,000 without work permits.
AsThailand delayed enforcement of the new law for 180 days, Cambodia will launcha 100-day campaign to issue passports for all illegal Cambodian workers inThailand, the Cambodian official said.
[Fleeing workers force Thailand to reconsider new labour rules]
TheNational Council for Peace and Order of Thailand on July 5 instructed theLabour Ministry to review the new labour law which has forced foreign workers toflee, affecting Thailand’s economy.
Aimingto suppress human trafficking and tighten foreign worker management, the newlabour law in Thailand led to more than 60,000 foreign labourers returninghome. The law said that who hire illegal foreign workers will receive a fine upto 23,557 USD, while illegal workers could face a 3,000 USD fine and five yearsin jail.-VNA
