Firms seek labour change
Business operators in Tak are calling on the government to seek amendments to a labour agreement with Myanmar to allow people living outside Myawaddy to work in the province’s border districts.
The proposed amendment was floated during a visit by Labour Minister Gen Sirichai Distakul, who was in the border district of Mae Sot to inspect progress with the Tak Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
Under a labour agreement signed by Thai and Myanmar governments, Myanmar people who live in the border town of Myawaddy are allowed to work in three districts of Mae Sot, Mae Ramat and Phop Phra.
While they hold a 90-day work permit, their border pass is only valid for 30 days.
Thai business operators claim that it is not practical to force these workers to return to their hometown after a 30-day stay despite holding a 90-day work permit.
He noted that only 5% of Myanmar workers are from Myawaddy.
Chaiwat Withitthammawong, of the Federation of Thai Industries of Tak, said local industries have supported this labour cooperation agreement for ten years because it better suits the circumstances.
He said it is inconvenient for these workers to cross the border back and forth because the border pass is valid for just 30 days whereas a work permit is valid for 90 days.
Moreover, up to 95% of Myanmar workers are from other areas including Mawlamyine and Hpa An, he added.
According to Mr Chaiwat, up to 50,000 workers will be needed when the SEZ in Mae Sot takes shape, with an amendment to the labour agreement likely to accommodate this growth.
Gen Sirichai said the proposal will have to be considered by authorities concerned while urging security and provincial authorities to step up regulations involving the employment of migrant workers.
A source said that several Myanmar workers have agreed to pay as much as 3,000 baht to relocate to Myawaddy so that they can seek employment in Tak.
A Thai business operator in Tak’s Phop Phra district said there are hidden costs if local business operators want to hire more workers, saying they have to pay costs of 5,000 baht per head.