Sanitsuda Ekachai's blog - Latest comments on Migrant workers' woes

In response to: Migrant workers' woes

Vic [Visitor] — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 11:01:19 +0000

A building contractor that I know related to me a story about his one-time involvement with Burmese workers. Apparently, when found out by the police that his work camp has some illegal workers, they (the police) came to raid the camp in the middle of the night, without a court order, of course, and helped themselves with all the belonging and money of the workers, Burmese and Thai alike.

In response to: Migrant workers' woes

Factoryman [Visitor] — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 11:07:48 +0000

The Thai government and the Thai people must come to grips with the guest workers present in the country who have come from our surrounding neighbor countries.
Like the US as economic prosperity grows then some jobs get left behind as undesirable for the native workers. Like a dishwasher in the US restaurant will be a guest working in nearly every case. In Thailand now many factory jobs such as in frozen food factories, or in fish processing, or in farming palm oil, rubber or shrimp are taken by the guest workers from various countries.
This problem is very difficiult to manage and creates ongoing problems such as how to educate the children of these workers, how to prevent discrimination against these workers in pay or benefits and how to control the numbers and registration of the workers.
Since the home countries for many of these workers offer little or no economic opportunity for the workers they are forced to try to find work underground and at risk to themselves and to the employer.
People smuggling within the country has become a real and widespread issue as labor demands for low level worker is a common theme throughout Thailand. It is not a Mae Sot issue but can be seen in every city in the country.
It is time to find a new and innovative approach to solve this problem. It is time to reward the employers paying the guest workers properly with tax incentives. It is time for the government to insist on registration for all guest workers and to monitor their movement via timely check in with various government departments.
Up until now no government has tried to find a universal way that can be accepted by immigration officials, labor department officials, police and politicians alike.
I would like to see a committee established with government, private sector and international labor representatives to insure Thailand develops the first truely innovative program to monitor and control guest workers.
Ideas could be taken from the countries tthat are respected in the international community for their work on this pressing issue. The government should tackle this as a challenge to show their true committment and ability to solve difficult issues.

In response to: Migrant workers' woes

BB [Visitor] — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 15:10:32 +0000

Great article!.. I totally agree with this article. Before this new government, Burmese migrant workers were in a bad situation, then they were waiting for a new government who could understand their difficulties. Then... Now here is a new government!... It seemed their hope is coming.. But in reality, there is no difference between Taksin and new DEMOCRATIC government.... So What is democracy.... where is Human right!... What is the meaning of democracy defined by Thai New government? Is it only for Thai people? I think.. This system is also not good for Thai people!!!!

In response to: Migrant workers' woes

ihatenationlists [Visitor] — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 01:23:59 +0000

Intaleng Wouldn't it make more sense to pay the migratns the same as thai workers? If the employers didn't do that - then they GO TO JAIL - no bribe, no fine, just prison. Now then, if you were a Thai employer what would YOU do? I would hire Thais - or if I couldn't find Thais then I'd hire foreigners. Thais would be easier. The reason the foreigners are hired is beciase they can be abused and no one will do anything about it. Who loses? Thais> You get it? It's not the migrant workers who are to blame - it's the THAI owners!

In response to: Migrant workers' woes

Intaleng [Visitor] — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 23:21:41 +0000

Cheap labour or invaders.
If we think we don't need foreign workers, we can not only stop registering new workers, we can also send all the registered workers back. There will be less crime and less contageous disease carriers as claimed by some people in the government agencies. Thai businessmen will save a lot of money and trouble by not having to pay compensation and high wages. They can then hire illegal workers at a much lower cost. Cheaper Thai products, produced with cheap labour will be able to compete in the world market. Two million labourers and their dependents can go back to their countries to help build their countries as porters and forced labourers, especially in a country like Burma. Thai people will then be able to live without fear from invading foreigners, until the two million people come back as cheaper illegal labourer, this time with a lot of friends.
Intaleng.

In response to: Migrant workers' woes

KV [Visitor] — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:46:03 +0000

"ut they complaints so much about Thailand. There is only one reason that I can see. RACIST. That’s the only reason."

Lol, or you just don't read those sites where that happen. Besides how you can connect someone here commenting to any other issue on any other site huh? Silly you! For my own case I can only speak about my disgust on all illegal problems that happen inside European Union, but why I would bring that up on this posting as that is totally off topic?!

Regarding why not saying anything about Burmese government? Well, because there is really nothing that can be done. The ASEAN seems not to care, so what is left is to help those burmese who get out and offer them outside their own country a safe heaven! The monks clashes, the taifoon that killed hundred thousand, Burmese government I believe will have to go sooner than later. So I hope. But I do condemn the Thai and Chinese government making business with Burma. Thailand as governmental unit should exercise pressure on Burmese government and make change there ofcourse! That way eventually there would be no immigrant problem as said, nor chance for those unskilled Thai soldiers to push people to die in the high seas. No one really wants to leave their homes but what you can do in the face of such horrible conditions.

In response to: Migrant workers' woes

Bukit [Visitor] — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 11:55:07 +0000

I am not a Thai but an Asian, a neighbour of Thailand. I have been followings the reports of the Burmese migrant workers in Thailand. Also the case of boat people, the Muslim Rohingya in the south.
What I don’t understand is why the whole world is pointing fingers at Thailand and no one blame the Burmese Military Generals who rules the country and for what has happened. If the Burmese Military governments are uncorrupt, sincerely cares about the well being his people and run the country well. I don’t think the Burmese will want to risk their lives coming to Thailand and look for works. And look down and abuse by the Thai.
Also they are not a single mentioned anything about those blood sucker human trafficker. These traffickers are probably connected to the Military. They have made tons of money by smuggling those poor and humble Burmese into Thailand and no one is pointing finger at them.
What can the Thailand government do? Just let the millions of Burmese cross over to Thailand everyday and flooded the whole country?
In the case of Burmese migrant workers working in factories in Mae Sot, this happened everywhere in the world. In the US at the border of Mexico, Cheap Mexican labours are smuggled into US to works. Most are underpaid, abused, working in poor working conditions, exploit poor desperate illegal Mexican immigrants and some without paid. There are cases whereby trafficker smuggled Mexicans by train. They were locked inside the train wagon to cross the border and some was suffocated to dead.
Such labour exploitations also happened in Europe. Poor desperate migrants from East Bloc countries exploits in Western Europe. Go to UK and see hundred of thousand of Polish workers working there. It is not different from the Burmese working in Thailand. Go and see for yourself.
Why are those white farangs commented over in this blog and never complaint anything about the mistreated Mexicans working in US, those mistreated Eastern Europeans working in Western Europe? But they complaints so much about Thailand. There is only one reason that I can see. RACIST. That’s the only reason.
It is time for Thai to change their mind set and stop thinking & looking so highly about the Farang. I have been to Thailand many times for many years now. And Most I’ve noticed most Thais treat the Farang as it they are Jesus Christ. Especially the ladies. Now I stop going to Thailand.
Time to wake up KHUN THAI.

In response to: Migrant workers' woes

Bukit [Visitor] — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 11:53:53 +0000