Bosses urged to register foreign labor

PHUKET: Governor Pongpayome Vasaputi called yesterday for employers to register their foreign laborers at the Provincial Employment Service Office (ESO). His appeal came after the ESO said that it estimated that 4,000 Burmese, Laotians and Cambodians working in Phuket had still not been registered. Speaking at the monthly meeting of senior provincial officials yesterday, Gov Pongpayome said, “I’m worried about the poor turnout because it’s been estimated that there are more than 20,000 foreign laborers in Phuket. But only 16,000 have been reported to the ESO so far. “So any employer who employs foreign laborers, but who has not yet gone to the ESO, should do so immediately.” Pradup Apai, an ESO officer who also attended the meeting, said, “Up until today [Wednesday], we have received the details of 16,326 foreign laborers. So far, we have interviewed and registered 1,074 workers, of whom 1,058 were Burmese and 16 were Laotian.” K. Pradup added that the ESO has extended the deadline for employers to deliver completed forms until October 13. After this date, the ESO will begin conducting raids on workplaces. Employers found to be using unregistered workers will face prosecution. For more information, call the ESO at 076-219660-1.