The Myanmar government will start issuing temporary passports to its illegal workers in Thailand next month.
Workers can apply for temporary passports at 10 centres in Samut Sakhon, Samut Prakan, Chiang Mai, Surat Thani, Pathum Thani, Kanchanaburi, Rayong, Khon Kaen, Songkhla and Nakhon Ratchasima provinces from Feb 15 to May 15, the Myanmar embassy in Thailand said in a statement.
The decision is part of the plan by Thailand and Myanmar to end illegal migrant workers from Myanmar. The two governments have held a series of talks to solve the problem. The latest round took place last Tuesday.
The cabinet on Tuesday agreed to extend the deadline of nationality verification for foreign workers from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia from Dec 15 last year to April 15 in a proposal forwarded by the Labour Ministry.
Labour Minister Padermchai Sasomsap said last week that 266,677 workers from the three countries did not verify their nationality within the December deadline.
Migrant workers from Myanmar have until Feb 2 to report to and register with the ministry to confirm their job status before applying for the documents from the Myanmar government, the embassy added.