Burmese issued permits under new plan, Bangkok Post
RANONG : Seventeen Burmese labourers have been granted work permits in an official ceremony marking the start of a fresh campaign to stop illegal immigrants from entering Thailand.
Burmese Deputy Foreign Minister Maung Myint and Labour Minister Chalermchai Sri-on presented the 17 labourers with the permits yesterday at the temporary Burmese national identification centre in Muang district.
The 17 fulfilled all the requirements to receive the documents which are classified as temporary passports and work permits. The labourers will go to work with a private company in Songkhla.
The minister said the 17 will set a good example for other potential Burmese workers.
The centre was opened on July 1 under an agreement between the two countries to verify the nationality of people wanting to enter Thailand to look for work.
It is a one-stop service with Burmese authorities in Kawthaung being transferred to the Ranong centre to work alongside Thai officials.
Centres have also been opened in Mae Sot district in Tak and Mae Sai district in Chiang Rai under the new agreement.
The Burmese officials will verify the nationality of applicants and issue them with temporary passports, after which the Thai officials will issue them with work permits.
Maung Myint estimated there are 1.2 million Burmese workers living illegally in Thailand.
Mr Chalermchai said cooperation between the two countries will end the problem of illegal Burmese immigrant workers.
The centres expect to check the nationality of 760,000 applicants in the next two years, he said.