A large number of legal migrant workers who are about to complete four-year employment contracts are opting to go through a fresh nationality verification process alongside illegal migrants to extend their employment, even though the practice could cost them their social security benefits.
According to one business operator, more than 100 of his migrant workers, who will complete their four year-employment contracts next month, want to join the 1.2 million illegal migrant workers who have been allowed to register for temporary permits since June, under a National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) directive.
The deadline for registration is Friday.
Another group of migrant workers whose employment contracts end early next year has urged him to take them along to be registered too.
Both groups are migrant workers allowed to work here legally after Thailand signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) agreements with neighbouring countries in 2010.
Such workers are thought to make up about 10% of the 2 million migrant workers in Thailand.
"These workers are willing to lose their social security benefits, such as free medical checks and related expenses, if they register again," said the employer.
They are willing to do this because under the MoUs, they are required to return to their home countries after having worked in Thailand for a maximum of four years.
They must then wait at least three years before reapplying to work in Thailand again.
The MoU was amended by the previous government to allow workers to return immediately, but the amendment has not taken effect due to the House dissolution. Thus, the conditions of the original MoUs still hold.
Once the migrant workers' contracts expire, they become "illegal". If they refuse to go home they will have to go into hiding until the government decides to legalise illegal migrant workers again, he said.
Prapon Chuenvijit, former manager of the seafood processing association of Samut Sakhon, has criticised labour authorities for being slow to address this problem.
He said these MoU workers are skilled labourers who know the job and can benefit the country.
Mr Prapon said labour officials have told employers off the record that the workers will not have to wait three years before resuming their employment.
However, it will take at least a few months for the workers to apply for passports and visas to re-enter the country and that wait will cost them income.
"The employers and workers are worried. They are waiting to hear from the Labour Ministry, but there has been no final word. The employers are taking no chances so are taking their employees to register," he said.
Mr Prapon said these workers are highly likely to lose their social security privileges and benefits.
Once they undergo new registration, they will be issued new ID numbers and have to wait for fresh nationality verification.
"There are clear steps and a specific time-frame when it comes to management of migrant workers. Authorities should be able to register them without their losing their rights or social security benefits," he said.
Adisorn Kerdmongkol, a labour activist specialising in migrant workers, has lauded the nationality verification programme for migrant workers.
He said Thailand has done a good job of giving formerly illegal workers legal status, and of bringing migrant workers into a system where they are eligible for welfare benefits and protection. He called on authorities to better manage those who have already gone through the nationality verification process.