Labour board discussed solutions to migrant workers

BANGKOK, July 3 (TNA) -- The government’s committee on migrant workers’ problems will propose the postponement of heavy punishments under the new executive decree on foreign workers for 120 days and extend a period of work permit applications. After a meeting of the committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, Labour Minister Sirichai Distakul said the Section 44 of the interim constitution would be exercised to delay for 120 days the imposition of the decree’s Sections 101, 102 ad 122 concerning heavy fines against operators and workers involved in the illegal employment of foreign workers. The delay would take retroactive effect from June 23 when the foreign labor decree took effect. The 120-day period should be enough for operators and migrant workers to complete their employment registration. Besides, the application for foreign employees’ work permits would be extended to March 31, 2018, for general migrant workers and Nov 1 this year for workers in fishery and aquatic animal processing. Since June 23, the foreign labor decree has prompted 29,000 migrant workers to return to their native country but in the same time 60,000 migrant workers have entered Thailand legally. (TNA)