Actions to be taken against unlawful employment agencies

Published on Wednesday, 30 January 2013 15:40

The Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security has set a ceiling on what employment agencies can charge workers they send to Thailand for jobs, and it is also urging migrant workers to file complaints against any agency that violates regulations on placing Myanmar nationals there.

Employment agencies must not charge more than 100,000 kyats (US$118) for general expenditures from workers wishing to work in Thailand, the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security said.

Total fees, for agencies on both sides of the border, to recruit and place workers have been set at less than 10,000 baht ($335) as employment service fees for the time being.

Licensed agencies must also pay for accommodations while workers are travelling to their new job and if they exit Myanmar by Tachilek and Kawthoung they must pay for their flight or boat.

The ministry also said that licensed agencies here are only allowed to send workers to licensed agencies in Thailand, warning that licensed agencies will not be allowed to continue operating if they send Myanmar nationals to work in jobs arranged by unlicensed agencies in Thailand.

If the agencies do not follow the rules instructed by the ministry, complaints can be lodged and they will face charges and imprisonment or fine will be punished, the report said.

There are an estimated two million workers from Myanmar in Thailand, of whom only 1.2 million are legal.

Temporary passport issue for Myanmar migrant workers has been extended for another three months.