The Thai government has announced that offices providing CI (Certificate of Identity) services for undocumented Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand will be closed on July 7.

Currently, there are six CI centers open until July 6: in the southern region of Thailand in Surat Thani and Phuket, in the northern region in Chiang Mai, in the central region in Mahachai and Samut Prakan, and in the eastern region in Chonburi. These centers will be closed on July 7.

U Moe Gyo, the chairman of the Joint Action Committee for Burmese Affairs (JACBA), stated that such directives from the Thai government with strict deadlines could pose difficulties for both employers and workers.

"The Thai government's directive will lead to the closure of the six open CI centers. Previously closed centers include Songkhla and Nakhon Sawan. The Thai government wants workers with Pink Cards to directly process PJ (Passport of Job). With the CI process, workers have to bear additional costs for both CI and PJ, doubling their expenses. By streamlining the process, the government aims to reduce these costs. For those without complete household registration or ID, CI processing is required. This warning signifies that urgent measures are needed, causing a challenging situation for employers and workers alike," U Moe Gyo said.

Due to the closure of CI centers, Myanmar workers in Thailand with Pink Cards will need to go to the border towns of Myawady, Kawthoung, and Tachilek for PJ processing.

U Moe Gyo expressed concern that the Thai government's strict deadlines and directives would lead to overcrowding at CI centers, causing hardships for thousands of Myanmar workers who may have to sleep on the streets and face inadequate sanitation.

 "The CI center staff will also be twice or three times as exhausted as usual. No one will be comfortable," he added.