The Ministry explained that the moves offer benefits for businesses including a low turn-over rate which helps save costs of recruiting and training.

Govt's initiative to boost migrant crews benefits commercial sector

THAILAND
Monday, September 17, 2018, 23:00 (GMT + 9)

After experiencing labour shortage, the Thai commercial fishing sector welcomed the Labour Ministry's recent move to recruit additional migrant workers by strengthening memorandum of understanding (MoU) system.

The Ministry strengthened the initiative for hiring migrant workers in an attempt to ensure foreign workers are screened by a state-sponsored process, The Bangkok Post reported.

In addition, the Ministry has developed two other other legal avenues, one of which makes it possible to extend work permits for about 11,000 migrant workers, whose work permits are due to expire at the end of this month, for another two years. The second tool allows migrant workers who hold valid passports, certificates of identity or other travel documents to register for work in the fishing industry for one year.

The Ministry explained that the moves offer benefits for businesses including a low turn-over rate which helps save costs of recruiting and training newcomers. The migrant workers, on the other hand, have fair work contracts and legal protection.

Initiated in 2003, the MoU policy was part of the government's effort to streamline management of low-skilled migrant workers from neighbouring countries Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.

However, it has never been successful, reportedly due to pressure from business operators.

On the other hand, the commercial fishing industry in particular wants the government to allow registration of migrant workers all year round. The fishing industry's justification is that fishing crews tend to abandon work randomly, forcing trawlers to seek new crews constantly. Instead of relying on a workforce obtained by MoU policy, commercial trawlers usually turn to large numbers of unregistered migrant workers.

As another way of reinforcing the work system, to assist paperwork and permits, the Thai government will open a One Stop Service Centre for labourers in Ranong province where workers will undergo health examinations and deal with visa applications, work permit applications and registration.

According to the Ministry, the latest measures to help migrant workers reflects the government's efforts in encouraging the fishing industry to hire legal migrant workers in an attempt to make Thai fisheries sustainable and meet international standards on good labour practices.

One of the main labour sources to Thailand is Myanmar and officials from both countries are negotiating over wages and welfare benefits. Workers will also be covered by a health insurance policy against accidents, and given compensation in case they cannot work.

In addition, the fishing industry will be encouraged to use the IT system instead of the paper-based system, as it will better respond to their needs for replacement workers.  

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