Special law used to defer enforcement of new law against migrant workers

BANGKOK, July 4 (TNA) - The Thai army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has decided to soon issue an order under the Article 44, its special authority, to defer the enforcement of the new executive decree on the management of migrant workers and to review some articles of the controversial law. NCPO Spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvaree told journalists of the decision, after the Thai junta's meeting at Bangkok's Government House earlier on Tuesday. The spokesman said the NCPO order, to be signed by Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha as the NCPO chief, will be issued shortly with details on a specific period for the delayed enforcement of the new law and some changes on its harsh legal punishment against violators. According to the spokesman, the NCPO decision is aimed to provide more times for both local employers and illegal migrant workers to comply with the new law. The NCPO decision followed a spate of exodus of undocumented migrant workers to their home countries over the past week to avoid the tough legal action, most of whom are Myanmar nationals crowding across the border back home through a border pass in Mae Sot area of Tak Province in the Lower Thai North. Meanwhile, the Thai premier and NCPO chief instructed Tak Governor Charoenrit Sa-nguansat and Commanding General of the 3rd Army Area Command Lieutenant General Wichak Siribansop to probe and end alleged charges imposed against Myanmar migrant workers by officials at the Mae Sot border pass, following a written complaint on the alleged corruption sent to the governor of Tak by the governor of Myawaddy Town in Myanmar's Kayin or Karen State bordering Mae Sot. (TNA)