Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday expressed grave concern over migrant workers’ livelihoods and other related humanitarian problems.

Ms Yingluck chaired a meeting between relevant agencies, NGOs and international bodies at Government House. She urged participants to work in collaboration to create systematic solutions that are in accordance with the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“We shall find proper solutions to take care of migrants with fairness,” she said. “We must offer them health care and convenience.”

The government yesterday set up four committees to tackle the long-standing problems of migrant labour.

Committee members comprise government officials, and representatives from migrant advocacy groups and international agencies.

There has been high demand for migrant labourers while a large number of migrants have been waiting to undergo the nationality verification process to work legally in Thailand, Ms Yingluck told the meeting, which was attended by Public Health Minister Pradit Sintawanarong, Labour Minister Chalerm Yubamrung, and Social Development and Human Security Minister Pavena Hongsakula.

Also in attendance were representatives from international bodies such as the World Health Organisation, Unicef, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

Dr Pradit said problems related to migrants, ranging from human trafficking, crime and health issues, stemmed from their illegal status which led them to go into hiding.

“The government cannot approach them to give them aid,” he said after the meeting.

“To solve the migrant-related problems, we have to encourage them to come out so that we can help them.”

It is estimated about two to three million migrants, mainly from neighbouring Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, are living in Thailand, he said. The government’s infrastructure development projects are expected to attract more migrants to seek work opportunities in Thailand.

In order to solve the existing problems and to prepare for an influx of more migrants in the future, participants at the meeting agreed to set up the four committees.

The first committee, led by the Labour Ministry and Social Development and Human Security Ministry, has the task of studying and compiling the problems migrant labourers face in Thailand.

The second committee, jointly formed by representatives from civil society and relevant government agencies, has the job of educating migrants about the benefits they will receive after legally registering with authorities.

“Migrants do not register because they lack the necessary information,” Dr Pradit said. “This committee will work on providing information to migrants and employers.”

The third panel, comprising representatives from international organisations, will share knowledge obtained from their experiences in working on the issue with Thai authorities.

The final committee, led by the Interior and Public Health ministries, will work on streamlining the national verification process.

By Paritta Wangkiat

Published on 6 September 2013