CNI News
27 April 2024
Migrant workers including ones from Myanmar whose 4-year MoU have expired must leave Thailand in the end of this month at the latest and if they don't do so, they will be taken action against, warned the Thai authorities, according to the Thai media.
Because the work permit term with four year validity of some migrant workers from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia will expire on 30th April.
So, they must leave Thailand before expiry date and if they didn't do so, they would be prosecuted, said deputy spokesperson of the Thai government.
Under the terms of the MOU, migrant workers whose four year contract term have expired needed to leave Thailand for one or two days and then they could re-enter after stamping the seal, U Tun Win Naing, chairman of the Migrant Workers Rights Network (MWRN), told CNI News.
" The Thai authorizes have warned they will arrest the workers whose MoU will expire don't leave, according to the terms of MoU. It would be convenient if the Myanmar government officials came to Thailand and provide service to Myanmar migrant workers. I've heard that Myanmar government officials will come to Ranong and provide service. Migrant workers have to go to Kawthaung and to stay there for one day and then they have to stamp the seal to show that they have left Myanmar. And then they can re-enter Thailand. The Myanmar government officials will provide service in Ranong, I heard. It will take the workers one week at the latest." he said.
The Thai employers hired migrant workers from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia under 4-year MoU. The MoU expired in January. So, the Thai authorities have warned the migrant workers to leave Thailand.
However, some Myanmar migrant workers whose MoU expired cancelled their contracts and are working after making work permit cards (Baht Pink Card).
What the Thai authorities said that if migrant workers whose four year MoU expire didn't leave Thailand in the wake of April, they would be taken action against was the claim according to the law and it would be impossible to carry out in practice, Ko Moe Lay, a person who is working in Thailand, told CNI News.
" I see what the Thai authorities said is a threatening phrase because there are so many undocumented people who are working in Thailand. Even so, the arrests have declined a little because the authorities understand and accpet the situation, I think. If they arrest, there are so many undocumented people. Their number is 10 times more than four year MoU workers." he said.
However, the Ministry of Labor of Thailand is collaborating with the governments concerned to make migrant workers whose MoU will expire soon re-renter Thailand without delay reportedly.
Migrant workers covered by the statement could leave from the nearby border gates and if their employers have submitted necessary documents, they could re-enter Thailand as soon as possible, said deputy spokesperson of the Thai government.
