Thai police arrest four Myanmar nationals after protest breaks out at pipe factory

Hundreds of Myanmar migrant workers protested at a pipe factory in Samut Sakhon Province, Thailand, on Thursday morning, prompting police to crack down and arrest at least four Myanmar nationals. Tensions ignited at the BIS Pipe Fitting Industry plant over dissatisfaction with a 12,000 baht (US$350) fee charged for work permits and visa renewals. After Thai police and military were dispatched to the complex, authorities handcuffed and arrested four Myanmar workers, according to Khaing Gyi, chair of the Aid Alliance Committee, an organisation advocating for Myanmar migrant workers' rights in Thailand. "Since protests are happening across Thailand, this is somewhat of an intimidation tactic to prevent others from protesting,” Khaing Gyi said. “It wasn't a major arrest operation. They just handcuffed them and took them away in cars.” By 11am on Thursday, the protest continued outside the factory as officials from the Thai Ministry of Labour arrived to negotiate. Khaing Gyi pointed out that factories are not permitted to handle the renewal process themselves, and instead rely on agent companies as intermediaries, where additional fees apply. He said the factory workers are willing to pay reasonable fees, but the rate of 12,000 baht is unreasonably high, which led to the demonstrations. The Thai government's official fee for work permits, visa costs, health insurance, and medical checkups should amount to less than 6,000 baht per worker. On top of this, many Myanmar workers struggle with the paperwork and office procedures required for renewals, leading factory staff and agent companies to charge excessive fees, according to a Myanmar passport renewal agent in Bangkok. "They just live in the factories, under their [employers’] influence,” the renewal agent said. The Myanmar embassy announced that migrant workers in Thailand, including those who entered illegally, those with expired official permits, or those working unofficially, can apply for temporary work and residence permits. These permits allow foreigners holding a passport or Certificate of Identity (CI) to live and work in Thailand for one year, with validity extended until February 13, 2025. Under this plan, applicants can also apply for two-year work permits with an additional two-year extension. At the same time, many labour rights’ activists are protesting the junta’s plans to collect data and taxes from Myanmar nationals in Thailand, and are concerned about the junta’s scheme to call back Myanmar nationals working overseas for mandatory military service. Myanmar migrant workers in provinces like Samut Sakhon, Samut Prakan, and Nakhon Pathom have protested in recent weeks against work permit renewal costs of up to 13,000 baht. “Since they're under the factory's management, they're forced to pay whatever price is demanded,” the renewal agent said.

Thai police arrest four Myanmar nationals after protest breaks out at pipe factory

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