Thailand to accept 400,000 migrant workers

by Mizzima News

Wednesday, 01 April 2009 16:10

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Thai Labor Minister Phaithoon Kaeothong, who yesterday chaired a sub-panel on alien-labor management, has revealed his intentions to officially welcome hundreds of thousands of migrant workers to the kingdom. “The Labor Ministry is to open registration for 400,000 alien workers. The plan will allow illegal alien workers, who do not have permit cards, to register legally,” a Thai daily newspaper, The Nation, has quoted Employment Department Director-General Pichai Ekpithakdamrong as saying. "We have decided to push for the registration of more alien workers because we have found that Thais are not interested in working in the fishery, construction and cold-storage sectors," according to Pichai. He added that alien workers registered under the program will later have their nationalities checked by the Interior Ministry. Some 500,000 alien workers are already believed to be currently awaiting nationality checks. < Prev   Next >