Thailand ’s Labour Ministry will consider confining job searches for migrant workers as border provinces are still experiencing labour shortages.

Permanent-Secretary for Labour Nakorn Silpa-archa said that many migrant workers often seek employment in other provinces despite their registration in another. The search for job opportunities beyond their registered province has left the shortage of workers unresolved, particularly at Mae Sot district in Tak province.

According to Nakhorn, the money which business owners have invested in obtaining work permit for these workers have gone down the drain, as they ran away and looked for jobs in other provinces. Therefore, the Federation of Thai Industries in Tak province will propose to the Labour Ministry to enforce Section 14 of the Labour Law.

This section of the law stipulates that the employment for migrant workers will be confined within the province which they obtained their work permit. In other words, they will not be allowed to seek job opportunities elsewhere except in the province they have registered for their work permit.

Many business owners in Tak province have been reluctant in bringing their workers to the Central Registration Office, as the application cost is high and their employees could find an opportunity to run away.

The ministry will also discuss with the Foreign Affairs Ministry regarding the interpretation of the border pass. It is not legally certain at present if the border pass can also be used instead of a passport in obtaining a short term employment in Thailand for these workers or not.-VNA