CNI News

24 Jan 2023

Issuing certificates of identity to pink card holding Myanmar migrant workers bring benefits only to agents, Thailand-based labour activists told the CNI.

The CIs have been issued since 17th January and all migrant workers were required to apply for CIs by 13th February. However, Thai authorities extended the deadline until 15th May.

Illegal migrants are not eligible to apply for CIs and it is even difficult for pink card holders to apply for CIs because the process is very complicated. So, it is very difficult for workers to apply for CIs by themselves and they have to rely on agents. The requirement bring benefits only to agents, Labour Activist U Min Oo of the Foundation for Education and Development told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "It is very difficult for workers or their employers to apply for CIs by themselves or on behalf of their workers. Authorities ask for many other documents. No one has enough time to go to authorities three or four times. So, they have to rely on agents, who have already had connections with authorities. Agents give them a certain percentage of their agent fees. Pink cards alone cannot guarantee CIs. Workers are required to submit their E-workpiermits and blue booklets or E-work permit slips. Then, they have to make payment at 7/11 stores. The process is very complicated."

CIs holders

Thai authorities issued pink cards to about 600,000 illegal Myanmar migrant workers in August, 2022.

CIs are documents issued for illegal Myanmar migrant workers recognized by the two countries and pink card and work permit holders who do not have CIs are not allowed to work outside designated areas.

CI holders are permitted to work in the entire country in Thailand and to return home officially.

Thai and Myanmar governments are collecting fees for CIs for their revenues, Labour Activist Ko Thar Gyi, who has been helping Myanmar workers in Thailand, told the CNI.

He said, "Thai and Myanmar authorities are collecting CI fees from workers. About 99 percent of workers do not want to apply for CIs. Thai authorities should allow Myanmar migrants who have pink cards to stay and work in Thailand. However, they are exploiting Myanmars by using their authority.

 Myanmar migrants

Workers have to pay Baht 1010 ( about MMK for 100,000) to authorities for CIs. However, Myanmar workers actually have to pay as much as Baht 7,000 to 8,000 per person for CIs."

Some Myanmar migrant workers were forced to pay Baht 10,000 to agents and documents they received were sometimes fake ones.

CIs are valid for four years and they are issued in provinces such as Chiang Mai and Ranong and labour activists have urged authorities to make the application process easier for workers.