Thailand considering social security for foreign workers

http://democracyforburma.wordpress.com/2009/03/02/thailand-considering-social-security-for-foreign-workers/

2009 March 2
tags: Burma, Human Rights, Junta, migrants, world focus on Burmaby peacerunningBANGKOK, March 2 (TNA) - The Cabinet is expected to consider recommendations to extend social security benefits to registered foreign workers in May, Minister of Labour Phaithoon Kaeothong said on Monday, noting that at present the privilege is given by the government and enjoyed only by Thai workers.

Mr. Phaithoon will invite labour officials nationwide to meet later this month to compile the numbers of foreign workers in their provinces so that welfare can be extended to registered workers.

If privileges are offered to foreign workers in the same manner as Thai workers, Mr. Phaithoon said, he believed crimes committed by alien workers against their Thai employers as well as diseases brought by them into the country would be reduced.

Unofficial statistics estimate that there are between one to two million foreign workers in Thailand, with only about 500,000 officially registered. The balance are illegal.

Surveys indicating the number of foreign workers are to be carried out nationwide, Mr. Phaitoon said, after which solutions to problems will be discussed in April with recommendations expected to be sent to the Cabinet in May for approval.

The recommendations, if Cabinet-approved, will become law automatically. (TNA)

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