CNI News

3 January 2024

When issuing certificates of identity (CI) to 900,000 Myanmar people who have been enlisted in the name list in Thailand, the role of brokers could be bigger, those who are helping in the affairs of migrant workers told CNI. 

The eight camps would be open on 4th January to issue CI to about 900,000 Myanmar people who have been enlisted in the name list by Thai employers, Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok has stated.

" Agents who are related to labor officers work as brokers at every camp. Outsiders are not allowed to enter the camp. If you work with brokers, CI book will be easily issued to you. CI books will be issued to 900,000 people during the designated period. Some workers have to go back to work all of a sudden because of their livelihood difficulties. Some workers have to spend a lot of money to register in the name list. If they don't have enough money for the time being to get CI books, it might take them long to get it." said Ko Thar Gyi who is helping in the affairs of migrant workers.

Those who are waiting in line to take CI (old photo)

Samut Sakhon, Samut Prakan, Chonburi, Patong Thani, Surat Thani, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Sawan and Songkhla Mobile Camps will be open to issue CI. 

However, compared to the population, the number of camps was still few, U Min Oo, in charge of labor affairs from the Foundation for Education and Development (FED) told CNI News.

" 80 or 90n percent of the workers might work with brokers to get CI. Brokers work both on that side and on this side relating to each other. If a migrant worker wants to get a CI alone, he has to make a package deal with brokers. Because many employers ask their workers to work with brokers. So, it will cost workers more. Brokers and agents are essential for the time being." he said.

A camp that issues CI

Thai government allowed undocumented foreigners to enlist them in the name list in July, 2023. However, those who apply for CI would pay the income tax, the people who are helping in the affairs of migrant workers told CNI News.

Because the income tax must be paid to the Myanmar government for the six months, there might be Myanmar migrant workers who will accept themselves as illegal workers. On the other hand, there are workers who want to pay the income tax because they did not want to be illegal workers, they said.