We the undersigned are calling on the Thai Royal Government to reconsider its decision to launch a massive crackdown on nearly 1.4 million undocumented migrant workers in Thailand after February 28, 2010.
February 28 is the last day for all migrant workers with two-year permits to undergo a national verification scheme, being conducted by the Thai Royal Government for supposed verification and extension. Those who will not sign up will be arrested, detained and deported.
As in previously recorded cases in Thailand and Malaysia among others, the crackdown will surely result in abuse and inhuman treatment of migrant workers, many of whom are from Cambodia, Laos and Burma.
Dear friends from Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants & Hong Kong Coalition for a Free Burma,
We, the undersigned Burmese CBOs based in Mae Sot, Thailand, would like to express our deep appreciation for your efforts to take action at this critical time for migrants in Thailand. We received the petition that is being circulated as well as the invitation announcing your plan to picket in front the Thai Consulate in Hong Kong tomorrow, and are hopeful that these actions will speak truth to power.
As community groups on the Thai-Burma border working for the rights of migrant workers, we are extremely concerned about the potentially disastrous impact of the Thai nationality verification process for migrants here. As you all know, the migrant communities in Mae Sot and other parts of Thailand are very afraid of what this process means for their safety, as many of them have left Burma on the basis of ethnic and political persecution in addition to the challenge, simply put, of surviving.
We organizations/individuals are calling for the revocation of the National Tax Administration of Taiwan's new regulation that all foreigners including migrant workers who would stay 183 days in any given year would need to pay 20% income tax starting January 2009. We deem this tax as oppressive and discriminatory and would not promote social justice as the government deems it in light of its ongoing tax reform package.
This will also negate any increase if ever in the minimum wage this year and comes at a time when the Taiwan government has decided to give monthly subsidies to low income Taiwanese families.
At present, said 20% non-refundable income tax is only implemented on those who stay for less than 183 days of the whole time that they are in Taiwan for the duration of their contract up to a maximum of three years and those who entered Taiwan after July 2nd. In essence, all migrant workers will experience this oppressive and discriminatory regulation.
