Migrant initiative ‘unlikely to succeed’

Labour Minister Adul Sangsingkeo’s idea to help illegal Thai migrant workers who were told to leave South Korea is unlikely to yield results because it fails to address why the workers left in the first place, says a Chulalongkorn University researcher.

These workers would rather risk getting arrested by South Korean authorities because they find it difficult to get well-paying jobs to support their families in Thailand, said Saman Laodamrongchai, a senior researcher at the university’s Asian Research Centre for Migration.

“The hourly wages in South Korea are equal to a whole day’s pay in Thailand,” he said.

With wages averaging between 40,000 to 50,000 baht a month, many migrant workers can live without problems despite the high costs associated with living abroad. In fact, most workers can send money to support their families back home by working in South Korea, added Mr Saman.

A source working on foreign employment affairs in South Korea echoed Mr Saman’s opinion. He recently spoke to a Thai masseuse who is working in South Korea illegally, who said that she has no plans to return to Thailand.

The 40-year-old worker said she initially planned to work for three months as permitted by South Korean authorities. However, she decided to continue working beyond her visa waiver and is ready to face the risks because of the high wages, the source said.

The woman can earn over 70,000 baht a month, more than enough to support her two children’s school fees, he said.

Mr Saman’s remarks over Pol Gen Adul’s plan to set up an employment centre to help returning illegal workers, also known as phi noi, or little ghost, is not aimed at attacking the minister’s effort to solve the problem. That said, given the limited job opportunities in Thailand, he believes only a few will decide to come back.

At present, up to 120,000 Thais are believed to work illegally in South Korea, which has caused South Korean immigration to tighten the screening of Thai visitors who were granted a visa waiver.

Mr Saman said Pol Gen Adul’s plan is a “good move” as it supports Seoul’s attempt to have these labourers return to Thailand without facing harsh penalties.

South Korea earlier announced a voluntary departure programme for about 300,000 illegal foreign workers, including 120,000 Thais, which will end on March 31 next year. During this period, illegal migrants will be pardoned and will not be blacklisted by immigration officers.

Pol Gen Adul also plans to ask South Korea to grant temporary permits to illegal Thai workers, so that not all of them will have to return home.

But the idea is impractical as Seoul is looking at the “bigger picture” of illegal foreign workers, and it cannot accord privileges to certain countries over others, commented Mr Saman.

It will be better if the government asks South Korea to increase the quota for Thai workers, as the current quota is not enough as to meet the demand for foreign workers among Korean employers.

Currently, only 5,000 successful work applicants aged between 18 and 39 years old, are allowed to work in South Korea every year under its Employment Permit System for Foreign Workers, or EPS.

However, he said, Thai workers need to further develop their work and language skills, which is considered as their major weak points.

Thai workers are usually hired to work as masseuses, and in agriculture and small factories with limited budgets to ensure their workers meet the requirements. Authorities are aware of this and thus are often “lenient” in their inspections.

Written by PENCHAN CHAROENSUTHIPAN
Source: Bangkok Post
Published on 16 October 2018
Link: https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1558550/migrant-initiative-unlikely-to-succeed