The Department of Employment (DOE) says it will need two weeks to complete
the registration of 22,000 more migrant workers who could not be registered
in time for the October 31 deadline.

According to Mr Pichit Nilthongkham, Director of the Office of Foreign
Workers Administration of the DOE, a total of 1.56 million immigrants from
Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia applied for work permits during the registration
period between June 26 and October 31. However, on the final day, employers
reportedly brought in an unusually large number of workers for
registration, causing a backlog of applications.

As a consequence, the officials were unable to serve over 22,000 applicants
and had to arrange appointments with them for later dates. Most of these
applicants are residing within Bangkok. Mr Pichit expects that they will be
gradually called in to initiate the procedure within two weeks’ time.

Following the registration, the Director said the DOE will coordinate with
the neighboring countries in the nationality verification process until
March 31 next year, after which the one-year work permits will be issued
for qualified registrants.

From now on, any employers found to be hiring illegal migrant workers will
be subject to a fine of 10,000-100,000 baht per head while each worker will
face a fine of 2,000-100,000 baht or a jail term of up to five years or
both.

By: National News Bureau of Thailand