THAI authorities are allowing neighbouring Cambodia to send teams into the country to issue passports and working visas to its nationals who entered Thailand via informal border posts without proper documentation.
“So many Cambodians came here without a passport. That’s the reason why we have to send teams here to provide the proper travel documents,” explained Mrs Eat Sophea, Cambodia’s Ambassador to Thailand.
“So many Cambodians came here without a passport. That’s the reason why we have to send teams here to provide the proper travel documents,” explained Mrs Eat Sophea, Cambodia’s Ambassador to Thailand.
“Thankfully, the Thai authorities have agreed to this strategy because they want Cambodian workers to live and work here legally.”
After obtaining a passport and Overseas Cambodian Workers Card, the workers will be assisted with obtaining visas and work permits.
“Legally, every Cambodian needs a passport to travel outside the country, but many entered Thailand through informal border passes because we have a long, forest-covered border,” the Ambassador told the BigChilli (full interview on page 119).
About one million Cambodians are inside Thailand on any given day. Of these, some 700,000 are undocumented workers and their dependents, around 20,000 are residing here legally in Thailand and the rest cross the border for a short time before going back.
Meanwhile, the ambassador revealed that the provisions of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) regarding workforce movement and employment across borders do not mean Cambodian workers can just come to Thailand and work without restrictions.
“There need to be formal agreements between ASEAN countries on which economic sectors foreign workers are allowed to enter, mutual recognition of professional services. This applies to Thai workers in other ASEAN countries as well. To be beneficial for the countries involved, there have to be agreements such as which areas of expertise should be open to free movement of workers.”
After obtaining a passport and Overseas Cambodian Workers Card, the workers will be assisted with obtaining visas and work permits.
“Legally, every Cambodian needs a passport to travel outside the country, but many entered Thailand through informal border passes because we have a long, forest-covered border,” the Ambassador told the BigChilli (full interview on page 119).
About one million Cambodians are inside Thailand on any given day. Of these, some 700,000 are undocumented workers and their dependents, around 20,000 are residing here legally in Thailand and the rest cross the border for a short time before going back.
Meanwhile, the ambassador revealed that the provisions of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) regarding workforce movement and employment across borders do not mean Cambodian workers can just come to Thailand and work without restrictions.
“There need to be formal agreements between ASEAN countries on which economic sectors foreign workers are allowed to enter, mutual recognition of professional services. This applies to Thai workers in other ASEAN countries as well. To be beneficial for the countries involved, there have to be agreements such as which areas of expertise should be open to free movement of workers.”
