Cambodian workers to be deported after Dec 14

BANGKOK, December 7 (TNA) - The Thai Ministry of Labour has been informed that Cambodia is ready to issue required documents, including temporary passports, for Cambodian people who need jobs in Thailand, as over 160,000 Cambodian workers are to be repatriated after the deadline for their nationality verification process on December 14, 2012. Pravit Khiengpol, Director-General of the ministry's Department of Employment, told reporters Friday that 222,430 Cambodian workers in Thailand need to undergo nationality verification, but from March-November 2012 only 56,776 of them have passed the process and 165,654 others have not. Pravit said it is unlikely that the Cambodian migrant workers will undergo the nationality verification process within the deadline and Phnom Penh is to, therefore, issue official documents to allow their workers to legally return for jobs in Thailand and to send officials to check their people before their employment. Pravit also referred to the issuance of temporary passports for Cambodian nationals to cross the border to do daily and seasonal jobs in Thailand. According to the senior labour official, he has sent the message to Seng Sakda, Director-General of the Cambodian Department of labour, and other officials concerned in their recent meeting. The senior labour official revealed that Seng has asked Thai authorities to facilitate the repatriation and the legal re-import of Cambodian workers, as Thailand still needs Cambodian workers and Cambodian authorities are ready to issue temporary passports for the Cambodian nationals who seek daily and seasonal jobs in Thailand. (TNA)