NEWS - Thailand Gives Alien Worker

[Rangoonp@xxxxxxx]

Subject: NEWS -  Thailand Gives Alien Workers Temporary Reprieve

Thailand Gives Alien Workers Temporary Reprieve

               Reuters
               27-JUL-99

               BANGKOK, July 27 (Reuters) - Thailand gave 91,000 illegal
               workers, mainly from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, a
               three-month reprieve on Tuesday from deportation. 

               The workers were set to be deported on August 4. 

               Labour and Social Welfare Minister, Wut Sukosol, told
               Reuters they would be allowed to continue working in
               Thailand for another three months. 

               "However, we plan to evaluate the situation again. If
they
               (workers) do not create any problems for us or if their
Thai
               employers still need them, then we may allow them to work
               further here," he said. 

               Most alien workers are paid less than Thais and they are
               prepared to work in jobs unpopular with Thais, mainly the
               agriculture, fishing and construction sectors. 

               The 91,000 workers are registered with Thai authorities. 

               There are a further 540,000 illegal foreign workers whom
the
               authorities have vowed to deport if they are caught.
These
               workers are also from the same countries. 

               "For those workers who did not register, it will be the
police's
               responsibility to send them back home as soon as
possible,"
               Wut said. 

               He noted that the country still needed foreign workers to
fill
               some jobs. A proposal on this would be sent to the
National
               Committee on Employment chaired by Prime Minister Chuan
               Leekpai.