Senior labour officials transferred as migrant worker exodus slows

– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community

PHUKET: The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) yesterday transferred two senior labour officials in charge of employment of migrant workers.

Employment Department director-general Prawit Khiangpol was transferred to an inactive post in the Prime Minister’s Office.

The deputy permanent secretary at the Labour Ministry, Sumet Mahosot, was appointed as acting Employment Department chief, replacing Prawit.

The chief of the Office of Foreign Workers Administration, Decha Pruekpatanarat, was also moved to an inactive post at the PM’s Office as well.

He was replaced by Chon Buri Employment chief Pichit Nilthongkham, who became the acting chief of the Office of Foreign Workers Administration.

In a separate development, caretaker secretary-general of the House of Representatives Chare Panpruang on Wednesday ordered the transfer of 16 government officials at Parliament.

The order came after the NCPO last week ordered the transfer of House secretary-general Suwichag Nakwatcharachai to an inactive post at the PM’s Office.

Most of the House officials transferred by Chare worked at the offices related to finance and procurement. Therefore, the transfers have been expected in preparation for a probe into possible corruption allegedly made under Suwichag’s lead.

The transfers came as life returned to normal in Sa Kaew’s Aranyaprathet border area yesterday as more Cambodians returned to sell their goods at the Rong Kleu Market.

Officials manning the checkpoint – led by Captain Apinan Songkhramchai from the Burapha Task Force’s Paramilitary Ranger Company 1206 and Sa Kaew immigration police deputy chief Pol Lt-Colonel Benjapol Rodsawat – said yesterday that fewer buses and trucks transporting Cambodian workers were passing through.

They also said workers crossing the borders no longer looked terrified of Thai officials.

Less than 500 Cambodians arrived at the Aranyaprathet train station yesterday compared to the 3,000 workers crossin over almost every day.

The Rong Kleu Market was buzzing with more Cambodians working at their stalls, while dozens of Cambodian students also crossed the border around noon to visit their parents.

— Phuket Gazette Editors