Burmese migrants living in Thailand are happy that they will have an opportunity to receive six-year temporary passports that will enable them to remain in their host country legally, but say they still face a number of hurdles along the way to acquiring the documents.
The passports, which until earlier this month were valid for just three years, give migrant workers a degree of security, but can only be issued to those who have registered to work in Thailand—and that is possible only if employers agree to provide a recommendation.
“I would like to get a temporary passport, but it's difficult because I don't have a regular employer,” said Sai Ti, a migrant working in Chiang Mai who earns about 4,000 baht (US $132).
Another problem, he said, is the expense: “If I go through a broker, I will have to pay even more than the fixed fee, which I can't afford because I have to support myself and my family inside Burma.”
The total cost of registering is between 2,900 and 3,800 baht ($95-125), depending on the location of the job and the type of work. This includes a 100 baht ($3.30) application fee, 600 baht ($20) for a medical examination, and 1,300 baht ($43) for a health-insurance deposit, in addition to an annual permit fee of 900 to 1,800 baht ($30-60).
For many workers, however, the reluctance of employers to provide recommendations means that the final cost actually comes to around 4,500 baht ($150), which includes a fee paid to a broker who handles the paperwork and acts as a proxy for the employer.
“My employer wouldn't give me a recommendation, so I have to contact an agency to get one,” said Muay Phon, a maid living in Chiang Mai.
With the deadline for registration fast approaching on July 14, brokers—including some who have set up tables inside the Burmese embassy in Bangkok—are doing a thriving business. Besides standing in for employers, they help the workers overcome communication problems and navigate through the inevitable red tape. And for a further fee, they offer transportation to Kawthaung, Myawaddy or Tachilek—the three Burmese border where the temporary passports are issued.
For most migrants, these services are invaluable. At the same time, however, they have been accused of fueling corruption among officials and, in some cases, breaking Thai law.
If an employer refuses to provide a recommendation, “The worker has to negotiate with the broker, and the broker will register the worker, but that is illegal because the worker is not working for the broker. In Thai law, the worker has to register with the employer he is working for,” said Andy Hall, a consultant to the Thailand-based Human Rights and Development Foundation.
The answer to that problem, according to Hall, is to allow migrants to register independently of their employers.
“The migrant is a human being and they have the right to register as a legal identity. We think that one of the ways which can make more people register is to take away that link with the employer,” said Hall.
Since Thailand began its National Verification system for migrant workers in 2009, nearly 500,000 Burmese have registered. But this represents just a fraction of the at least two million Burmese migrants believed to be living in Thailand.
Even for those who do register, the freedoms they enjoy are very limited. They are allowed to work only within the area where they registered for employment, and can only do certain jobs, such as construction work, gardening, housekeeping and other manual labor.
Those who hold temporary passports, however, are also permitted to travel freely within Thailand, get a driver's license, buy a vehicle and travel by air back to their home country.
Many who have managed to register say that they are now hoping to take the next step—acquiring a temporary passport that will afford them even greater security and freedom in Thailand.
“I have already finished the registration process, but now I'm watching the situation and saving money to get a temporary passport,” said Myint Hlaing, a 60-year-old construction worker.
For the lucky few who can afford it, the passport is well worth the price, even after brokers take their share.
“I made my temporary passport through an agency because my employer didn't want to support me. I had to pay an extra 1,000 baht ($33) to hire an employer, but now I have more guarantees than before. Now I can complain if my employer is bad to me,” said Ko Tun, a Burmese worker in Chiang Mai who holds a three-year passport.
The passports, which until earlier this month were valid for just three years, give migrant workers a degree of security, but can only be issued to those who have registered to work in Thailand—and that is possible only if employers agree to provide a recommendation.
“I would like to get a temporary passport, but it's difficult because I don't have a regular employer,” said Sai Ti, a migrant working in Chiang Mai who earns about 4,000 baht (US $132).
Another problem, he said, is the expense: “If I go through a broker, I will have to pay even more than the fixed fee, which I can't afford because I have to support myself and my family inside Burma.”
The total cost of registering is between 2,900 and 3,800 baht ($95-125), depending on the location of the job and the type of work. This includes a 100 baht ($3.30) application fee, 600 baht ($20) for a medical examination, and 1,300 baht ($43) for a health-insurance deposit, in addition to an annual permit fee of 900 to 1,800 baht ($30-60).
For many workers, however, the reluctance of employers to provide recommendations means that the final cost actually comes to around 4,500 baht ($150), which includes a fee paid to a broker who handles the paperwork and acts as a proxy for the employer.
“My employer wouldn't give me a recommendation, so I have to contact an agency to get one,” said Muay Phon, a maid living in Chiang Mai.
With the deadline for registration fast approaching on July 14, brokers—including some who have set up tables inside the Burmese embassy in Bangkok—are doing a thriving business. Besides standing in for employers, they help the workers overcome communication problems and navigate through the inevitable red tape. And for a further fee, they offer transportation to Kawthaung, Myawaddy or Tachilek—the three Burmese border where the temporary passports are issued.
For most migrants, these services are invaluable. At the same time, however, they have been accused of fueling corruption among officials and, in some cases, breaking Thai law.
If an employer refuses to provide a recommendation, “The worker has to negotiate with the broker, and the broker will register the worker, but that is illegal because the worker is not working for the broker. In Thai law, the worker has to register with the employer he is working for,” said Andy Hall, a consultant to the Thailand-based Human Rights and Development Foundation.
The answer to that problem, according to Hall, is to allow migrants to register independently of their employers.
“The migrant is a human being and they have the right to register as a legal identity. We think that one of the ways which can make more people register is to take away that link with the employer,” said Hall.
Since Thailand began its National Verification system for migrant workers in 2009, nearly 500,000 Burmese have registered. But this represents just a fraction of the at least two million Burmese migrants believed to be living in Thailand.
Even for those who do register, the freedoms they enjoy are very limited. They are allowed to work only within the area where they registered for employment, and can only do certain jobs, such as construction work, gardening, housekeeping and other manual labor.
Those who hold temporary passports, however, are also permitted to travel freely within Thailand, get a driver's license, buy a vehicle and travel by air back to their home country.
Many who have managed to register say that they are now hoping to take the next step—acquiring a temporary passport that will afford them even greater security and freedom in Thailand.
“I have already finished the registration process, but now I'm watching the situation and saving money to get a temporary passport,” said Myint Hlaing, a 60-year-old construction worker.
For the lucky few who can afford it, the passport is well worth the price, even after brokers take their share.
“I made my temporary passport through an agency because my employer didn't want to support me. I had to pay an extra 1,000 baht ($33) to hire an employer, but now I have more guarantees than before. Now I can complain if my employer is bad to me,” said Ko Tun, a Burmese worker in Chiang Mai who holds a three-year passport.
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