Friday, 15 February 2013 11:19 Mizzima News
The Myanmar Embassy in Thailand on Thursday announced the recommencement of a new period of registration for migrant workers and their employers at 11 sites throughout Thailand beginning Friday, February 15.
The policy falls in line with a proposed extension of the March 16 deadline for migrant registration—known officially as Nationality Verification (NV).
The 11 NV centers in Thailand where employers of Myanmar, Cambodian or Lao migrant workers can register are at: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Tak, Khon Khaen, Pathum Thani, Kanchanaburi, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakorn, Rayong, Ranong and Suratthani.
Once employers have registered their migrant workers, lists are to be sent to Thailand’s Ministry of Labor for verification, which will in turn pass all accepted registrations to the Myanmar Embassy for distribution to its 11 “one-stop” centers.
According to the International Organization for Migration, the workers will then have until April 13, 2013, to complete the process, which will cost a minimum of 3,550 baht (US $117) for: a six-year Myanmar passport (550 Baht); a Thai two-year visa (500 Baht); a two-year work permit (1900- 3,800 Baht); and a health check (600 baht).
The NV process is aimed at registering some 1.3 million undocumented migrant workers from the three neighboring countries.
Most Myanmar migrants work in manual labor industries such as construction, agriculture and factory work. Many Myanmar women also find work in Thailand as maids and nannies.
A study by Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University recently revealed that migrant workers from Myanmar send home more $1 billion a year to their families. The study by the university’s Institute of Asian studies said that about half of migrant workers earn between Bt 5,000 to Bt10,000 ($333) a month.
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For more background:
The Myanmar Embassy in Thailand on Thursday announced the recommencement of a new period of registration for migrant workers and their employers at 11 sites throughout Thailand beginning Friday, February 15.
The policy falls in line with a proposed extension of the March 16 deadline for migrant registration—known officially as Nationality Verification (NV).
The 11 NV centers in Thailand where employers of Myanmar, Cambodian or Lao migrant workers can register are at: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Tak, Khon Khaen, Pathum Thani, Kanchanaburi, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakorn, Rayong, Ranong and Suratthani.
Once employers have registered their migrant workers, lists are to be sent to Thailand’s Ministry of Labor for verification, which will in turn pass all accepted registrations to the Myanmar Embassy for distribution to its 11 “one-stop” centers.
According to the International Organization for Migration, the workers will then have until April 13, 2013, to complete the process, which will cost a minimum of 3,550 baht (US $117) for: a six-year Myanmar passport (550 Baht); a Thai two-year visa (500 Baht); a two-year work permit (1900- 3,800 Baht); and a health check (600 baht).
The NV process is aimed at registering some 1.3 million undocumented migrant workers from the three neighboring countries.
Most Myanmar migrants work in manual labor industries such as construction, agriculture and factory work. Many Myanmar women also find work in Thailand as maids and nannies.
A study by Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University recently revealed that migrant workers from Myanmar send home more $1 billion a year to their families. The study by the university’s Institute of Asian studies said that about half of migrant workers earn between Bt 5,000 to Bt10,000 ($333) a month.
_______________________________________________________________________
For more background:
- Myanmar asks Thailand to extend migrant documentation program
- Undocumented migrant workers face deportation
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