CNI News

4 December 2024

All the foreign workers who were working illegally in Thailand have been allowed to stay independently from 28th to 30th December, announced the Thai authorities.

However, it would come into effect only the Thai royal family signed the statement, in charge of labor affairs of the Foundation for Education and Development (FED) U Min Oo told CNI News.

" The statement has been issued. It's right. But it can be confirmed only if the royal family sign the statement. It's complex situation for them. There are three groups to be renewed - firstly foreign workers who have been working in Thailand for long, secondly undocumented workers and  thirdly, dependents. When all of them are registered online, there are some difficulties. To the best of my knowledge, the Myanmar side has demanded to pay the tax when the documents are renewed. Myanmar migrant workers have to transfer the money to their families in Myanmar. According to the MoU, MoU workers have to go back to their native countries. It's difficult quite a bit because there are a lot of employers." he said.

The statement applies to all undocumented workers and those who are working with PV, PJ and CI documents. 

While seeing a worker holding a Thai Pink ID card

Although all illegal foreign workers are allowed to stay independently, employers must have reported personal data of their workers to the labor management office in the territories concerned.

All the workers had been allowed to stay independently in the past and if the workers stayed beyond the period designated, they might be arrested, Ko Moe Lay, a Myanmar migrant worker in Thailand, told CNI News.

" The Thai authorities make a list of workers including where undocumented workers are staying. And then undocumented workers are not arrested. If they go beyond the area designated, they will be taken action against. But after one month, there might be arrests. The SAC want to collect the tax from those who will apply documents, visa, and work permit in February 2025." he said.

The Thai Ministry of Labor has urged undocumented workers to apply Thai pink ID cards in December at the latest.

Although this case has been confirmed at the Thai cabinet meeting on September 24, Thai PM has not signed to confirm it.