The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) issued an announcement on Monday saying that it does not have a policy to arrest or crack down on migrant workers. It follows various news reports that around 70,000 Cambodian workers fled Thailand last week for fear of being abused.
The junta also denied that Thailand has problems with human trafficking, slave labour or abuse of workers as alleged by human rights organizations and the international community, according to its Announcement No. 67
Previously on May 10, the NCPO established a Migrant Workers Management Committee as well as a Sub-Committee on Migrant Workers Management, both with high-ranking military officers as committee chairs.
Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Acting Foreign Minister, denied any crackdown on workers and said the measures taken were to organize illegal migrant workers into the system so they can benefit from legal protection.
He said he planned to discuss the migrant workers policy with the Cambodian ambassador to Thailand.
Meanwhile the spokesperson of the 2nd Army Region Col. Chinkart Ratanajitti said it was able to arrest 6,441 illegal migrant workers during June 1-15, 2014. Of those, 6,265 are Cambodian and 185 are Lao.
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