The Foreign Worker and Human Trafficking Policy Committee agreed to allow Burmese, Laotian and Cambodian migrant workers to return home for the Songkran Festival 2019 between April 5 – 30 without paying a fee on the border. For those traveling back during May 1-31, 2019, a 2,000 Baht fee will be inflicted according to the law.
On March 4, 2019, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, General Prawit Wongsuwan, chaired the Foreign Worker and Human Trafficking Policy Committee meeting No. 2/2019, welcomed by Labour Minister, H.E. Police General Adul Sangsingkeo, Permanent Secretary of Labour Mr. Jarin Chakkaphark and the ministry’s executives who joined the meeting at the Prof. Nikom Chandravithun conference room, 5th floor, Ministry of Labour. Essential items in today’s meeting included the acknowledgement of results on the preparation of seabooks following the Cabinet resolution on November 6, 2018 and January 29, 2019 on the progress of improving the MOU on employment between the Thai government and the government of partner parties, namely the Thai-Myanmar Labour Employment Agreement and the Thai-Vietnam Labour Employment Agreement, and acknowledgement of the Thai-Laos ministerial meeting outcomes.
The meeting also considered waiving guidelines for migrant workers returning home for the Songkran Festival 2019 between April 5 – 30 without paying a fee on the border. This will apply to migrant workers from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar working in Thailand as labourers, domestic workers, Cambodian-Laotian-Burmese language coordinators and fishing vessel technicians, holding a temporary stay passport permitted to stay in the Kingdom until April 30, 2019, at least.
However, if migrant workers return to Thailand between May 1-31, 2019, they will need to apply for a temporary stay visa at the respective immigration checkpoint that will enter the Kingdom, with the permitted time period for stay in Thailand equal the original period, and will need to pay a fee of 2,000 Baht as required by law.
Gen. Prawit also assigned various agencies to take actions in the respective areas, for relevant staff to facilitate foreign workers traveling back during Songkran. He emphasized that staff do not use wrongful power in their positions and ask all units to promote the information in all areas, especially in border provinces, to reduce allegations and calls for improper benefits.
This year, approximately 200,000 – 300,000 migrant workers are expected to travel back to their home countries during Songkran. With the Department of Employment’s waiver guidelines for Burmese, Laotian and Cambodian migrant workers to return to their home countries for the Songkran Festival 2019, as approved by the Foreign Worker and Human Trafficking Policy Committee today and proposed to the Cabinet to consider and relevant agencies to proceed in accordance with the Cabinet resolution, the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare will issue a request for cooperation in the workplace for employees to stop work during the Songkran Festivities.
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Division of Public Relations/
News by Chaninthorn Phettab/
Photos by Sompob Silbut/
4 March 2019/
