The bustling office of Tak Immigration in Mae Sot district, Tak, teemed with Myanmar workers, heads bent over heaps of paperwork, carefully filling out their visa applications. This was a common sight last year, as captured in a rather telling photograph which has since been widely circulated.
Migrant employees hailing from Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, previously permitted to reside and engage in work in Thailand on a temporary basis, have now seen their stay extended. This is applicable as they attempt to secure new visas and work permits in the country, as per the latest declaration from the Ministry of Interior.
On Tuesday, the ministry released two crucial announcements tied to the development. These entailed special provision for the migrant labour from the aforementioned nations allowing them an extension of stay. This measure also legitimises their work in Thailand. Both the announcements were featured in the Royal Gazette on Monday as informed by Traisuree Taisaranakul, Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s secretary and the ministry spokeswoman.
The first such announcement, implemented retroactively from October 1, deals with workers from these four countries who are year-round residents of Thailand. The previous provision under a cabinet decree from July 5 allowed these workers to continue their lives and occupations here till September 30, as declared by Traisuree.
This fresh proclamation lets this distinct demographic of migrant labour extend their stay and continue their jobs in Thailand up until January 20, 2024. Concurrently, their employers will be submitting applications for them to keep living and working in the country till February 13, 2025, which is currently being reviewed.
The minister’s second announcement is now applicable and concerns a separate faction of migrant workers. These individuals, originating from Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia, currently reside and operate here following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) inked between the Thai government and the respective governments of these nations.
Under the most recent declaration, these so-called tri-nation MoU migrant labourers, whose four-year permission to reside and engage in labour in the country is due to conclude at the end of this year, can continue leaving here till April 30, 2024. “Should they desire to continue work from January 1, 2024 to April 30 the same year, their employer will have to submit a work permit application,” Traisuree confirmed.
Lastly, in case these workers plan to extend their stay and want to continue their jobs even after April 30, next year, a new request must be put forth by their employer once again. Hence, the endeavour of every migrant worker in Thailand continues. They are the unsung heroes of the nation, fuelling its economy and its growth, all the while, carving out a livelihood for themselves far away from home.
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