Nationality verification service to be opened for Myanmar workers

BANGKOK, Aug 28 (TNA)- Nine nationality verification centres will be opened next month for undocumented Myanmar workers, who earlier seek registration with Thai labour authorities before the government’s lenient period ends this year, said Waranon Pitiwan, director-general of the Employment Department. Those Myanmar workers, who have already undergone the process of verifying their employment status can apply for the next step of the nationality verification by making an appointment at labour service centres across the country from today (Aug 28) onwards. The nationality verification service to be conducted by officials from their homeland is set to start on September 15 at nine centres in eight provinces, including Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Ranong, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Songkhla, Nakhon Sawan and Tak. After the nationality verification is finished, work permits will be issued for these newly-registered workers. Mr Waranon said so far, about 130,000 employers and 481,000 migrant workers passed the screening for their employment status verification while about 12,000 failed. When the lenient period ends on Dec 31 and the new executive decree on management of migrant workers is fully enforced on Jan 1, 2018, harsher punishment will be applied to employers with a fine of upto 800,000 baht per illegal migrant worker and illegal migrant workers face five years in prison or/and a fine of 2,000-100,000 baht. (TNA)