SA KAEO - Cambodia has closed 43 temporary border crossings into three districts of Sa Kaeo province, explaining it would prevent unregistered Cambodian workers being caught illegally entering Thailand.
Sawanit Suriyakul Na Ayutthaya, chief of Aranyaprathet district, said Cambodian Interior Minister Sar Kheng had on Monday ordered the indefinite closure of the 43 temporary crossings on the border in Banteay Meanchey from July 4.
The Bancheay Meanchey governor was instructed to strictly abide by the order, which would prevent Cambodians who have no proper documents entering Thailand to work, as they would be caught and face harsh punishment by Thai authorities under the new law on migrant workers, the order said.
The closure would encourage Cambodians wanting to work in Thailand to apply for passports and other necessary documents. It would also help prevent smuggling of pirated goods and other contraband.
The new labour law stipulates harsher punishments for both civil and criminal wrongdoings associated with the hiring of unregistered migrant workers, with fines ranging from 400,000-800,000 baht.
Pol Col Benjaphon Rodsawat, chief of Sa Kaeo immigration police, said immigration police and soldiers sent to inspect the border crossings in Aranyaprathet, Khok Sung and Ta Phraya districts of Sa Kaeo found the atmosphere there very quiet. No hired farmhands were entering the three districts from Cambodia to work, as they normally would have.
The rangers on Tuesday blocked the crossings with barbed wire fences on the Thai side.
Thai farmers seen parking pickup trucks near the crossings to collect their usual daily hired help were told the practice was at an end until Cambodian authorities issued further orders.
Pramuan Khiewkham, secretary-general of Sa Kaeo chamber of commerce, said cassava farmers in the area relied on Cambodians working their fields from morning to evening. Each farmer usually hired 9 or 10 workers at a daily wage of 230 baht each.
If the border crossings remained closed the farmers and their families would suffer, Mr Pramuan said.
The National Council for Peace and Order backpedalled on the immediate implemention of the harsh new penalties on Tuesday, issuing an order under Section 44 giving a 180-day reprieve for people involved in the employment of unregistered migrant workers.
There was a feeling in Sa Kaeo that Cambodia’s closure of the 43 temporary crossings was a retaliation against the new law on employment of foreign labour.
Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said on Tuesday the closure of the temporary crossings would not affect Thailand. They were not permanent checkpoints, but natural crossings. He said the closure had nothing to do with the new labour law, and was aimed at preventing smuggling.
The top road sign points to the temporary border crossing of Ban Non Makmun in Aranyaprathet district, Sa Kaeo. Cambodia has closed 43 temporary crossings in three districts of Sa Kaeo, opposite Banchey Meanchey province. (Photo by Sawat Ketngam)
