25 July 2017

Thailand will be free of illegal migrant labourers by next year, Labour Minister Sirichai Distakul vowed after the launch of 101 centers nationwide to legalize the status of migrant workers.

He said the centres can handle up to two million unregistered migrant workers, or around 1,500 workers at each centre per day.

The centres...are aimed at getting all illegal migrant labourers registered in compliance with an executive decree that imposes harsh punishments on employers who hire undocumented foreign nationals...

...The 15-day window in which the centres will be open is part of the 180-day grace period ... that the government has given employers and workers to get their paperwork in order.

...Sirichai said that after this period, employers along with their workers must under a process to verify their employment status...