Bangkok Post(29/4/99)

[mandalay@xxxxxxxxxx]

<center><bold>Permits for 90,911 aliens to be axed</bold> 

</center>

Exceptions likely in problem sectors


Nussara Sawatsawang

	The government will not extend work permits for almost 100,000 alien
registered for temporary employment after their term expires in August, a
labour and social welfare ministry official said yesterday.

	But Duangmon Buranarerk, director of the office for the management of
foreign workers, said the ministry and other agencies were studying some
relaxed measures including a possibility to allow foreigners to work in
areas facing labour shortages.

	The measures are to be announced by Aug 4, the last day that 90,911
alien workers'-most of them Burmese-work permits end, she said.

	The move is a departure from the 1997 resolution, which required illegal
labourers to register and work in several jobs and places-despite
criticism the measures only met the economic interests of employers.

	Suphang Chantavanich of the Institute of Asian Migration Research of
Chulalongkorn University, welcomed the move saying that it would
eventually limit the number of alien workers who can legally work in the
country and-and prevent abuses by employers.

	Mrs Suphang also called on the government to register illegal workers
and classify them into areas, jobs and terms of stay as part of a bid to
curb the influx of an illegal workforce.

	It is estimated that over one million illegal alien job seekers are now
in Thailand. The numbers were more than those recorded by the ministry,
which said there are 896,417 illegal alien workers here without work
permits, as of last December.

	Burmese workers rank top of the scale, followed by Bangladesh, Cambodia
and Laos. Building, fisheries and related industries are popular among
unskilled workers.

	Countered by the financial crisis, the government claimed last year that
it managed to deport about 300,000 illegal workers to provide places for
unemployed Thais.

	The measure, however, was denounced by many as it failed to prevent
newcomers due to the failure to control long borderlines and the
reluctance of Thais to work in low-paid jobs.

	The deadline could mean a return of alien workers to their countries and
Burmese Deputy foreign minister Khin Maung Win said last week that the
Burmese government would welcome them back regardless of race. 


	Thailand and Burma will discuss the issue at the upcoming joint
commission ministerial meeting, he added.

	Khin Maung Yi, a Burmese labour ministry official, said recently that
his government was keen to formulate an agreement with other countries to
guarantee benefits and salaries for Burmese people working overseas.

	Currently, Burma has a deal with the Singaporean government to export
workers to the island state, said the Burmese official. 

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