UN raises fear of mass deportation of migrants from Thailand

Cambodian workers deported from Thailand (Photo: Koh Santepheap)

Thu, 18 Feb 2010
DPA

Bangkok/Geneva - The United Nations Thursday raised concerns over the possibility of mass deportations of migrant workers in Thailand at the end of this month, following the implementation of a new worker documentation process. "A potentially large number of documented and undocumented migrant workers from Myanmar, Cambodia, and Lao People's Democratic Republic face the threat of deportation from Thailand after February 28, 2010," Jorge Bustamante, the UN human rights expert for migrants, said in Geneva.

In January, the Thai cabinet passed a resolution allowing for a two-year extension of work permits for some 1.3 million migrants provided that they were willing to submit biographical information to their home governments prior to February 28, 2010.

Those who fail to do face the risk of deportation.

The new process was agreed on in memoranda of understanding signed bilaterally between Thailand and its three neighbours Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

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