Temporary passport for migrant workers, delayed overdue

Due to the delay of temporary Passport process, workers have difficulties to travel around. When submitted application form to get temporary passport within one month to office of Passport in Mae Sot, Thailand, not done yet until in four months said a worker from Mae Sot.

“Since it process was on going earlier 2012, I have applied for passport until now. I have work permit that is long for one year. They said my name from national identity card is not the same as from work permit card, so that is a problem to finish by due date”, said he.

A Karen migrant worker also said, “I have applied it since 5 months ago, not get it yet. I give an agent 15,000 bath for the cost of passport. Some people already got it, if possible, should be specific due date for this process. However, even though holding temporary passports, still being annoyed by the local polices in Thailand.”

The worker office from Mae Sot already announced that all of migrant workers in Thailand, who don’t have temporary passport, have to be done application process by December 14 in this year 2012, will be recognized as legal workers. If the process have not done, will be arrested by Thai authorities.

 

Ko Htwe Naing, legal coordinator from Yaung Chi Oo Worker Association said “when we asked agents who are doing this process for workers, they don’t even know specific date when it will be done because they have to wait report reply from local offices.”

Workers who will be holding temporary passport have for 6 years long and work permits for 2 years, altogether 10,500 baht to 15,000 baht will be cost. But, if we do with some agents, will cost 5000 to 8000 baht. After that, we have to give 1,900 baht for health care, 1,000 baht for worker office and 1,500 baht to hire employers every year.
According to Thai labor law section BE 2522, 5,000 baht and 5 years in prison for those who are delayed by the dead line on December 14 to do the application process.