Challenges of Labor Migrants to Thailand: Issues of Bilateral Agreements for the Employment of Workers in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS)
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Abstract
The governments of the Kingdom of Thailand and neighboring countries have, over the past years, attempted to legalize the flow of migrant workers. Bilateral agreements for the Employment of Workers were signed between Thailand and its Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) partners from 2002-2004 to promote cooperation for the employment of workers. The roles of both migrant-sending and migrant-receiving countries have to be made clear in terms of how to cooperate in safe migration, and how to exchange information about standard practices and decent working environments for migrant workers. This framework was designed to facilitate migrants and prospective migrants in securing documents and entering into a two-year guest worker program. This paper aims to examine, based on empirical data consisting of 97 semi-structured interviews with migrant workers in the Kingdom of Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the challenges migrants face in facilitating legal work in the GMS under bilateral agreements. This paper analyzes, by employing a rights-based approach to migration issues, the obstacles migrants face in seeking legal work in these regions. The findings of the study indicated four main issues related to migration under the current governance system. Based on the results, the researcher has suggested the development of laws or measures in both the migrant-sending country and Thailand, the migrant-receiving country, which specify the costs and duration of the process to import labor. It is essential that all personnel give consistent information to interested persons and improve pre-departure training courses to help migrant workers understand the specifications in the bilateral MOUs with Thailand. This knowledge and information should be provided to migrants, prospective migrants, their families, and relevant agencies in both countries.
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