Illegal workers arrested, face Thai court

21 June 2014
The Cambodia Daily
Crime and law enforcement / Government / Human rights / Informal labor / Informal migration for labor / International relations / Labor / Labor policy and administration / Law and judiciary / Local workers abroad / Ministries and other national bodies / Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation / Ministry of Interior / Offshore recruitment and employment / Social development
Adhoc / Bangkok / Council of Ministers / HRW / Human Rights Watch / Hun Sen / Koy Kuong / Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Press and Quick Reaction Unit / Sa Kaeo province / Sar Kheng / Thailand / Tith Sothea

Thai authorities have arrested and are preparing to try 13 Cambodian migrant workers who were allegedly caught with fake stamps on their work papers as they tried to return home, Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong confirmed on Friday. The government also announced a plan to subsidize the cost of passports for would-be migrant workers and students, meaning the documents will now cost only $4 instead of the usual $124. The arrested workers are just some of more than 200,000 Cambodians—many of them undocumented or illegal laborers—who have fled Thailand since a military junta came to power last month, sparking fears of violence and arrests. To date, at least 225,000 workers have crossed back into Cambodia, according to officials. …

 Khy Sovuthy and Lauren Crothers
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/illegal-workers-arrested-face-trial-in-thailand-62059/