The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRC) organized a meeting regarding the issues of driving licenses to migrant workers in Thailand on 22, January 2010. The meeting was chaired by the human rights commissioner of Thailand and those in attendance were government’s officials, NGO workers and human rights defenders.  The meeting was held at the NHRC’s office in Bangkok, Thailand. 

“The meeting was very successful in allowing an open exchange of ideas between officials, human rights defenders, NGOs and migrant workers on the issue of the benefits and challenges that would result from migrant worker’s ability to apply for and receive motorbike licenses in the future. The Ministry of Transport is currently studying this issue in detail to draft a regulation it promised back in

October 2010. HRDF sought to present to officials a picture whereby migrant worker access to motorbike licenses should not be seen as something which could have a negative impact on national security or public safety, but instead as a positive opportunity to integrate hard working migrants into Thai society, control dangerous motorbike use, reduce accidents on the road and provide increased benefits for migrant to register legally as workers. Officials acknowledged this position and agreed to consider all these issues when making a final decision on the exact details of the regulation which shall soon be published on this issue…” said Mr. Andy Hall, director of migrant justice program from Human Rights and Development Foundation.

Htoo Chit, executive director of Foundation for Education and Development (Formal Grassroots HRE) also participated at the meeting.  “The migrant workers need the driving license for their daily survival because most of Burmese migrant workers are working in the rubber plantation in southern Thailand and living in remote areas. The working places are far from main roads and markets. They also need to send their children to schools as well as travelling to the hospitals or local clinics in case of an emergency. The migrant should not only get driving licenses, but also should be provided with the knowledge of traffic policy and law. I hope that the issuing of driving licenses to migrant workers is not only beneficial to Burmese migrants but also to Thai society because the road accident will be reduced and Thai authorities are easy to control the migrant who broken the law.  ” Htoo Chit, repeated.

 Nowadays, migrants are driving in Thailand without legal driving permits and there are many road accidents in the area due to the migrant’s lack of knowledge on Thai traffic policy and transportation law.  This lack of knowledge combined with unprofessional driving has caused many migrants to be pulled over by the local authority and forced to pay a fee.  In many cases migrants are unable to afford the fee and so their vehicle is confiscated.