The Cabinet met on Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at Command Building, Government House. Some of the resolutions are as follows:

Title: Reorganization of Myanmar, Laotian and Cambodian migrant workers 

The Cabinet granted approved the guideline for organization of Myanmar, Laotian and Cambodian migrant workers proposed by the Ministry of Labor as follows:

1. Guideline for reorganization of Myanmar, Laotian and Cambodian migrant workers after March 31, 2015:

1.1. Those whose nationalities have been verified by March 31, 2015 will obtain visa and work permit until March 31, 2016 (under Cabinet resolution on October 28, 2015). These workers followed all the steps required by National Council for Peace and Order within the stipulated time period. Their work permit will remain valid two years after permission ends on March 31, 2016;

1.2. Migrant workers obtaining work permit issued by the one-stop-service registration center for migrant workers and whose nationalities have not been verified by March 31, 2015 must report themselves to receive identity card by June 30, 2015, as well as new work permit. These workers will be allowed to stay in the Kingdom for one year and to work from April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016 to complete nationality verification. Once their nationalities are verified, they will be allowed to say and work in the Kingdom for two more years;

1.3. Those who fail to report themselves for a new ID card and work permit by June 30, 2015 will be investigated, monitored, arrested, and sent back home under the commands No. 100/2014 and No.101/2014 made by National Council for Peace and Order on July 21, 2014; and

1.4. Followers aged below 15 years old must report themselves to obtain new ID card along with migrant workers by June 30, 2015. The reporting followers will be allowed to stay in the Kingdom as stated in 1.1 and 1.2 on a case by case basis. Those not reporting themselves will be sent back home along with migrant workers as stated in 1.3.

2. Solution to shortage of marine fishery workers

2.1. Short-term solution: Registration for marine fishery workers will be provided. Migrant workers whose nationalities are Myanmar, Laotian and Cambodian will be allowed to stay in the Kingdom for one year from April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016; and

2.2. Long-term solution: Migrant workers will be legally imported through seven stages proposed by the National Legislative Assembly as follows: 

1)    Registration of workers and employers, and compilation of demand for marine fishery workers.

2)    Recruitment of Thai workers and approval for importation of migrant workers.

3)    Selection of legal employment agencies in case of importation of migrant workers.

4)    Importation of migrant workers. National Fisheries Association Thailand as representative of members of fishery employers will cooperate with employment agencies on recruitment.

5)    Orientation for marine fishery workers before they go offshore.

6)    Control and monitoring of fishing boats and workers on board.

7)    Penalty on state and private agencies violating relevant laws or regulations.

By: The Royal Thai Government

Published on: 3 March 2015