Cambodian Workers Flee an Uncertain Thailand

Thousands of migrant workers have fled to Cambodia from Thailand. Many fear that Thai’s new military government will take steps against illegal workers. But as we hear from Anna Mateo, the government has denied ordering the expulsion of workers.

Eye-witnesses describe areas along the Thai-Cambodian border as disorderly and chaotic. Tens of thousands of undocumented Cambodian workers havebeen going home. Some say they heard unconfirmed reports of the use offorce against illegal labor by Thailand’s military government.

Border security was tightened after the Thai armedforces ousted the civilian government on May 22nd. The military coup caused some migrant workers toleave Thailand. But in recent days the numbers haverisen sharply.

Joe Lowry works for the International Organization forMigration. He says border stations are overcrowded.

"About 75,000 people would have crossed over fromThailand - undocumented Cambodian workers. Theyare coming from different parts of Thailand, being at the border and then beingtaken to their home provinces by a combination of Army and military trucks,mini-buses that we're hiring to get the most urgent cases homes. It has been a chaotic scene on the border for the last 48 hours and it might continue forquite some time."

Since the coup, Thai police and officials are reported tohave raided some migrant neighborhoods. Theyreportedly asked migrant workers to presentidentification cards.

Last Sunday, the Thai military and Foreign Ministrydenied there are plans to punish migrant workers. Amilitary government official says the administration istaking steps to control migrant labor because ofconcerns over human trafficking and child labor.

General Prayuth Chan-o-cha is the head of the militarygovernment. He recently called for better workforcerules. He also said that warning illegal workers abouttheir standing led to fears of a crackdown.

In recent years, the International Labor Organizationhas supported a program set up to regularizeThailand’s undocumented labor. The program createda system of work permits and national passports formigrant workers.

Andy Hall studies migrant worker issues. He says an examination of policy isneeded.

"They've come out with this commission saying that they are setting up thiscommission to address migration issues. I mean I think it is a good thingbecause migration as a policy in Thailand has been absolutely chaotic.Hundreds of thousands of migrants have been left with without any policy."

Thailand's National Health Commission Office estimates there are as manyas four million migrant workers in the country. At least 400,000 were fromCambodia and more than two million from Myanmar. Smaller numbers are from Laos. These migrants work in Thailand’s industry, agriculture and fishingsectors -- areas often avoided by Thai nationals.

I’m Anna Mateo.