Cambodia speeds up issuance of passports

Cambodia speeds up issuance of passports

An official checks an immigration card of a Cambodian woman at a checkpoint in Thailand. (Bangkok Post file photo)
An official checks an immigration card of a Cambodian woman at a checkpoint in Thailand. (Bangkok Post file photo)

Cambodian authorities are speeding up efforts to issue passports to all its nationals working in Thailand who pass the nationality verification process to prevent them from being deported after their work permits expire, Labour Ministry spokesman Ananchai Uthaipatanacheep said.

Speaking to the media yesterday, Mr Ananchai said Cambodian authorities are working to issue passports and other travel documents to more than 240,000 Cambodian workers in Thailand.

He was quoting figures provided by Hun Manet, vice-chairman of the Committee for Providing Legalisation to Cambodian Workers.

Cambodia expects to issue all the passports by June which should allow Cambodian workers to continue working in Thailand legally, Mr Ananchai added.

Hun Manet together with Cambodian officials met Labour Minister Sirichai Distakul in Thailand on Monday to talk about cooperation between Thai and Cambodian authorities in conducting the nationality verification process for Cambodian workers. Once the workers have obtained passports, they can apply for a visa and a work permit, allowing them to stay two more years in Thailand, Mr Ananchai said.

He said Hun Manet urged Thai and Cambodian officials to work together on the nationality verification process.

Workers who hold pink cards are allowed to work in Thailand temporarily. But they are required to pass a nationality verification process to extend their work period.

Migrants who fail to go through the process will be arrested and deported back to their home countries.

Migrants in the marine fisheries industry are allowed to work in Thailand until November, while work permits for those in general occupations run out on March 31, 2018, according to Mr Ananchai.

After the verification deadline this year, migrant workers who want to work in Thailand will be assessed according to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on migrant workers, which limits the number of labourers.

Thailand has an MoU with Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos to allow migrant workers to work in Thailand legally.

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