With the economic crisis hitting employment in Thailand in 1997, the government reacted by rescinding work permits and threatening to repatriate migrant workers. Then in August 1999 the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare released its policy for the registration process and serious intent to deport undocumented migrant laborers. A 90-day registration process, which began on August 4th ended on November 1st 1999. Then from November 3rd, a massive crackdown on illegal labor was launched openly all over Thailand. In major towns and along the Thai-Burma border from south to north, Burmese migrant workers were rounded up and forcibly deported.
Women are particularly vulnerable to harm.
Within a month the initial frenzy of deportations died down. Gradually, Burmese workers came back and business has become normal again. In last August 2000, a Thai cabinet meeting passed a resolution to extend the work permits of migrant workers for one more year. MAP's Interventions Several NGOs in Chiangmai working with displaced persons, refugees, and migrant sex-workers had informally been pooling resources to assist migrants in crisis with translation at hospitals and with liaisons between government departments. The network identified the needs of migrant workers, after which our group, a team of local and migrant volunteers and experienced NGO workers was formed to fulfill their needs.