Only 2,000 Burmese migrant workers verify nationality

by Usa Pichai
Thursday, 15 October 2009 12:54

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) — Nearly three months have elapsed yet only about 2,000 Burmese migrant workers have gone in for nationality verification from among an estimated one million in Thailand, according to the country’s Labour Minister.

Phitoon Kaewthong, Thai Labour Minister and Maung Myint Burmese Deputy Labour Minister held a meeting in Thailand and signed a memorandum of understanding for the 7th Meeting Nationality Verification of Burmese Workers from October 10 to 13.

Phaitoon said there is some progress. So far about 2,000 migrants from Burma have gone through the nationality verification process, while 700,000 have registered with the Labour Ministry (with the old regulation, without passport) from among an estimated one million Burmese migrants in Thailand.

He answered questions by the press about the threats to Burmese migrant workers, who want to cross over to Burma for the verification process, that they would be arrested and their families taxed. He said “these are only rumors.”

Burma and Thailand agreed to set up centers to issue passports and visa, started from mid of July this year in three major official border towns; Mae Sot, Thailand's border town, Tarchileik and Kawthong in Burma.

“People can inform officials if they have problems. In addition, Burmese authorities have also set up centres to receive petitions in Thailand and will provide more information in Burmese for workers,” he added.

Jirasak Sukonthachart, Thailand’s Director of the Department of Employment and Min Lwin, Burma’s Director of the Department of Consulate and Law have signed a memorandum of understanding to bring down visa fees for the first 10,000 verified Burmese workers to work in Thailand. It has come down from 2,000 Baht [60 US$] to 500 Baht [15 US$]. This will be proposed to the Thai cabinet next week for approval.

The 500 Baht fee is to be used for migrant worker management funds, including repatriation. The funds will also be available for protection of the rights of migrant worker’s welfare - in the event of sickness, paralysis or death both while at work and from other causes. They would also get Thailand’s standard minimum wage, according to a report in Thailand Ministry of Labour’s website on Tuesday.

Private agencies processing verification should not charge over 4,000 Baht [120 US$] per person, Phitoon said.

The verification process was stalled as the Burmese junta insisted that nationality verification take place in Burma in its three major border towns. The Thai government then announced that all registered Burmese migrants must go through nationality verification before February 2010.

Meanwhile, labour rights activists remain concerned. Recently, Thai Labour and Human Rights groups submitted a petition to the United Nations Special Rapporteur Jorge A. Bustamante and Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, demanding an urgent investigation into the process of ‘Nationality Verification of Burmese Migrants’ in the Kingdom.

The groups in their petition, and open letter said they are concerned over the confusing and complicated process, which involves migrants having to pay ‘unreasonably high costs’ saying it could make them victims of human traffickers.