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Thailand tightens rules for migrant workers


Foreign workers in Thailand face stricter rules on assemblies, mobility, use of cellular phones among other restrictions, as some provinces have rammed up security measures. Thailand hosts some 13,000 land-based overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), based on the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration Labor Assistance Center’s actual departure records from 1998 to 2005. But independent estimates said the number could reach 20,000, including those undocumented ones. In an email message sent to GMANews.TV, the Migrant Forum in Asia, a regional network of non-government organizations, associations and trade unions of migrant workers, said that some provinces have tightened some rules on foreign workers as concerns about border security heightened. Somjet Khantikul, a provincial labor official of Thailand, was quoted saying that the provincial committee on security and peace and order has agreed to the enforcement of such measures. The measures include a ban on public gatherings of more than five alien workers, registration of mobile phones, and a nighttime curfew starting at 10 p.m., Mr. Somjet said. However, the rules would remain flexible, labor officials had told the Bangkok Post. Those who need to do activities during curfew hours or work irregular hours, can do so with special permission. As part of the effort to monitor migrant workers’ movements, employers are reportedly required to make a list of alien workers, including mobile phone numbers and serial numbers of SIM cards and forward them to provincial authorities. Mr. Somjet reportedly said that the restrictions were old rules that have been loosely enforced so far, adding that the committee has debated possible violations of fundamental rights and believes the restrictions will not lead to any rights violations. Several provinces, including Surat Thani, Chumphon and Phuket, have also launched a similar campaign. Wasant Sathon, director of Immigrant Workers Administration Office, said provincial authorities have imposed the restrictions. Labor-rights activist Sompong Sakaew has urged caution on the implementation of certain measures, saying these may step on human rights of migrant workers. ''For example, the authorities should not throw a curfew blanket and should impose a curfew only in crime-infested areas,'' he said. ''The cell phone ban should not be applied because they (cell phones) can also be used to report abuses or seek help from the state, non-government organizations or others,'' he said. –Ma. Fe Nicodemus, GMANews.TV

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