Govt extends nationality verification deadline for migrant workers

BANGKOK, Dec 29 (TNA) – The government extends the deadline for undocumented migrant workers to have their nationalities verified for another six months. The nationality verification is part of the required processes for migrant workers before they seek working visas and work permits. Government spokesman Lt Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd said originally, migrant workers are allowed to stay and work in Thailand until Dec 31 this year while they are seeking the documents for legally working in the kingdom. After the government learned that about 900,000 undocumented workers failed to complete the nationality verification process in time, it decided to extend the deadline to give them more time to finish it. To accelerate the procedures, the spokesman said provincial committees would be established to oversee operation of One Stop Service centres for registration of migrant workers. The government came up with new regulations on migrant labour management as it targets to reduce the number of illegal migrant workers and solve the related problem such as fight human trafficking systematically and sustainably. (TNA)