Alien workers issue to be reviewed

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Alien workers issue to be reviewed
Concern among rice and rubber operators

Bangkok Post
April 29, 1998

Suebpong Unarat

The government is to rethink its policy to push out all illegal immigrant
workers from May Day and has assigned an ad hoc committee to come up with a
resolution within two days.

Its reluctance followed a request from the Labour and Social Welfare
Ministry to the cabinet urging flexibility because there are jobs that
require foreign workers.

The ministry wants the government to allow illegal foreign immigrants to
take up employment while awaiting repatriation in 13 provinces adjoining
Burma, Laos and Cambodia and 22 other coastal provinces where jobs on
trawlers are in high demand.

Somchai Sahachairungruang, deputy government spokesman, said the cabinet
decided to assign an ad hoc committee appointed earlier to tackle the
problem of illegal immigration to study the ministry's proposal.

The committee's decision can be implemented without having to seek cabinet
approval again, he said. 

Panja Kesornthong and Suvit Khunkitti, deputy premiers, and representatives
of the National Security Council were appointed to additionally sit in the
committee which is chaired by Bhichai Rattakul, also a deputy premier.

The panel will have until May 1 to come up with recommendations which will
cover details on occupations and employment illegal immigrants can take up
during the period before repatriation.

The decision came as business operators demanded flexibility in the
government's policy to repatriate illegal workers.

Owners of rice mills called on the government to allow them to continue
hiring foreign workers. They were joined by rubber planters, who say they
need foreign labour for another year.

Uthai Sonlaksap, president of the Association of Thai Natural Rubber
Farmers, said he had received complaints from planters in Ranong, Phuket,
Phang-nga, Krabi and Chumphon claiming the ministry's move would badly hit
their business.

Most planters in the five southern provinces have hired Burmese to work in
their plantations.

If alien workers are arrested and repatriated to their country, these
rubber plantations will be left with no workers and the rubber business
will be greatly affected, said Mr Uthai.

The planned May 1 crackdown, which falls on National Labour Day, has
sparked protests from businesses that rely on foreign labour.