Alien workers to face more restrictions

Movements to be strictly controlled

PENCHAN CHAROENSUTHIPAN

Labour officials have dusted off a number of immigrant worker control measures in in an effort to better manage their movements and to tighten security. Somjet Khantikul, a provincial labour official in charge of employment, said stricter enforcement of such measures have been agreed by the provincial committee on security, peace and order.

The measures include a ban on public gatherings of more than five alien workers, registration of mobile phones, and a night-time curfew starting at 10pm, he said.

But the rules would remain flexible. Those who need to do activities during curfew hours or work irregular hours, can do so with special permission.

He said the employers are required to make a list of alien workers, their mobile phone numbers and serial numbers of SIM cards and forward them to the provincial authorities.

Mr Somjet stressed that these restrictions were not new, but had only been loosely enforced so far.

He said the committee has debated possible violations of fundamental rights and believes the restrictions will not lead to any rights violations.

''These measures are already there under several related laws, including the alien labour legislation. We discussed the restrictions and believe they will not infringe on human rights.

''All we now need is effective management,'' he said.

The employers have been briefed about the campaign and they are supposed to provide cooperation, he said.

Several provinces, including Surat Thani, Chumphon and Phuket, have also launched a similar campaign, said Mr Somjet. There are more than 50,000 alien workers, most of whom come from Burma, in the province.

Wasant Sathon, director of Immigrant Workers Administration Office, said the restrictions have been imposed by the provincial authorities, who consider for themselves what is appropriate for the province.

Labour rights activist Sompong Sakaew has urged caution on the implementation of certain measures, saying they are deemed to be going against human rights.

''For example, the authorities should not throw a curfew blanket and should impose a curfew only in crime-infested areas,'' he said.

He is also opposed to any plan or attempts to ban the use of mobile phones by immigrant workers.

''The cellphone ban should not be applied because, don't forget, they can also be used to report abuses or seek help from the state, non-government organisations or others,'' he said.

Mr Sompong also criticised the government for suspending its policy on granting visas to the spouses and children of immigrant workers who have had their work permits renewed.

The policy was introduced in 2005 by the Interior Ministry.

He said immigrants' children will now be separated from their parents and sent to shelter homes, including new-born babies, creating more national problems.

There are also reports about Thai men being paid to father babies born to alien workers to secure them Thai nationality.

Mr Sompong has heard about the racket which is widespread in the border provinces. He is concerned about a decline in the number of registered alien workers.

Mr Sompong interpreted this as an indication of legal workers turning illegal and subjecting themselves to abuse and exploitation.

Bangkok Post

Saturday March 17, 2007