Migrants wait to get stamped, refugee-style

Migrant workers now are waiting days to get their turn to get into the line that is hours long to register at one of four 'one-stop service centres' in Bangkok. The workers are required to update their profile and working status at the centres by the end of the month so officials can consider extending their stay. (Photos by Pornprom Satrabhaya)

Migrant worker Som Nang sat waiting with his wife and their two-year-old daughter for hours on Wednesday night for his turn to register at the Labour Ministry's One Stop Service centre.

The Cambodian family arrived at the centre with a few mats to sleep on. Although they knew the registration would not be a breeze, nothing had prepared them for the tough conditions they were about to endure that night on the grounds of the ministry, where the centre is located.

Som Nang was given a time slot but that got pushed back. The morning came but the centre was not done processing its registration backlog from Wednesday.