Civic groups are demanding stronger legal help for migrant workers after finding their access to labour rights is still being "limited" by the practices of Southeast Asian countries.
The Asean Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers, known as the Cebu Declaration, was ratified by Asean members in the Philippines' province of Cebu in 2007. But in practice, many labourers still encounter difficulties, said Somchai Homlaor, chairman of the Southeast Asia Legal Aid Network.
Because of this, civic groups, non-governmental organisations and state agencies need to work more closely to ensure migrant workers' rights are well protected by law, which is the goal of the Cebu declaration, he said.
"We'd like to see help go to both documented and undocumented migrant workers," Kyaw Htwe, a member of Myanmar's lower house, said during a recent meeting with representatives from Thai labour agencies and labour advocacy groups.
"We should base our help on human rights principles," he said, as he expressed concern for Myanmar nationals who make up the largest number of foreign workers in Thailand, followed by Cambodians and Laos.
Both documented and undocumented labourers may find themselves in similarly unpleasant situations. Among their problems are being paid wages lower than stated by law, unpaid overtime, passports seized by employers, problems with exercising rights under state social security programmes and unfair layoffs, according to migrant labour rights groups.
These problems show many of them need help from legal experts to better protect their rights.
Deputy permanent secretary for justice Tawatchai Thaikyo said Thai authorities are working to ensure that foreign workers have legal help in place. Thai and registered migrant labourers have rights to the "Justice Fund" which pays medical bills and provides compensation if they suffer labour abuse.
"We are also planning to work [more closely] with our Asean counterparts to take care of people working in foreign countries," he said.
Labour officials also have helped to set up work packages for migrant labourers. Centres to receive and repatriate migrant workers have been established in border provinces to help facilitate their work and educate them on Thai labour laws, said Employment Department chief Singhadet Chuamnat.
In workplaces, the law requires companies with more than 50 employees to set up committees, comprising company and labour representatives, to deal with labour-related issues ranging from money to safety.
Officials are also encouraging companies to allow representatives of migrant labourers to sit on committees working to solve their problems and build understanding, said Sombun Traisilanon, chief for labour protection under the Labour Protection and Welfare Department.