Thailand maintains its stance on not expelling Cambodian laborers, as asserted by Paetongtarn.
Thailand Stands Firm on Foreign Workers, Cambodia Prepares for Possible Return
In an attempt to quell mounting tension with neighboring Cambodia, Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has affirmatively stated that the government has no intention of forcing foreign workers to return to their home countries. This powerful message was disseminated through social media platforms.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn reaffirmed that Thailand is not implementing a policy to repatriate alien laborers, leaving the decision to leave the kingdom in the hands of the workers themselves. She further elaborated that countries with job opportunities for their own citizens can expect those workers to return home voluntarily, taking responsibility for their national fellows.
While the prime minister did not explicitly name Cambodia, her declaration arrived on the heels of Cambodia's call for workers to return home as a response to a partial closure of border checkpoints by Thai security authorities.
When Hun Sen, who is often regarded as the most influential figure in Cambodia, spoke last week, he declared that industries in Cambodia are on the brink of collapse due to the shortage of laborers. Hun Sen opined that several thousand workers returning from Thailand could effectively resolve this issue.
The ongoing diplomatic tension between the two countries escalated when Cambodia requested a ruling from the International Court of Justice regarding four border disputes, with Hun Sen expecting the conflict to persist for an extended period.
Cambodia has made preparations for a potential influx of returning workers, placing 400 buses on standby to transport workers from the Thai-Cambodian border. The Phnom Penh Governor Khuong Sreng announced in a statement that the government will act immediately to transport citizens and workers in need of repatriation, should the need arise.
While Thailand and Cambodia engage in a Joint Boundary Commission meeting to resolve the border conflict, both nations face the prospect of a continuous standoff.
Insights
- Though Thailand does not plan to deport Cambodian workers, it does not ban these workers from returning home either. This approach seeks to maintain a stable environment for foreign workers while ensuring that their respective home countries can call them back if necessary.
- Cambodia has made contingency plans for potential large-scale repatriation of its migrant workers, including providing necessary assistance, employment, and financial aid to ease the burden on returning workers.
- The ongoing war-and-conflicts between Thailand and Cambodia, centering around border disputes and labor issues, have resulted in politics of a delicate nature, with diplomatic tensions escalating through public statements from both nations' leaders.
- In the realm of general news, the preparation for potential mass repatriation of Cambodian workers from Thailand is a noteworthy development, signaling the sustained impact of these conflicts on the workers, as well as the governments' efforts to address the situation.
