Press Release on the outcomes of the meeting between Cambodian and Thai labour ministers seeking solutions for Cambodian workers
On 07 July 2017, the Royal Government of Cambodia issued a press release following a meeting between H.E. Ith Sam Heng, Minister of Labor and Vocational Training and Head of Commission for Provision of Lawful Status to Cambodian Migrant Workers and H.E. Sirichai Distakul, Thai Labor Minister, which took place on 06 July 2017 at Thailand’s Ministry of Labor to discuss cooperative management of labor, and particularly to seek a solution to provide lawful status to Cambodian workers who are staying and working in Thailand. The meeting outcomes are:
- The Thai government had agreed not to enforce penalties against any Thai companies employing undocumented Cambodians or expel Cambodian migrants who are currently working in Thailand.
- Cambodian migrants who previously had work permits but changed employers without applying for new status will be allowed to register with the Ministry of Labour of Thailand to seek official status.
- Thailand will grant a 15-day grace period from 24 July to 7 August 2017 to any Cambodian migrant workers and Thai employers who lack documents to register at Foreign Migrant Worker Registration offices, which will be opened in 10 locations in Bangkok and in each of Thailand’s 76 provinces.
- The Commission for Provision of Lawful Status to Cambodian Migrant Workers will also start launching campaigns from 1 August 2017 to identify and provide travel documents to Cambodian workers in Thailand who lack them, allowing them to stay and work in the country.
Royal Government of Cambodia
