The certificates of identity (CI) are being issued at nine stations around Thailand and are the latest of the Kingdom’s many attempts to regularize the status of the millions of undocumented workers employed within its borders.

The embassy said CIs are currently being issued to migrant workers who hold temporary work permits or temporary passports, as well as to undocumented workers who hold recommendation letters from the Thai Department of Employment.

“After obtaining a CI, [the migrant workers] need to apply for a work permit and a visa before March 31, 2018,” said U Aung Khin Myint, a labor attaché at the Myanmar Embassy. “We are currently carrying out the visa issuing processes. We are urging [the migrant workers] to complete the documents quickly before the deadline.”

The nine stations issuing CIs to migrant workers in Thailand are: Mahachai 1 and 2 near Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Ranau, Songkhla, Chiang Mai, Maesai, Mae Sot and Nakhon Sawan.

U Aung Khin Myint said action may be taken against undocumented migrant workers who overstay beyond the year-end deadline under the Management of Alien Workers Law, legislations that was enacted this year.

But Ko Min Oo from migrant assistance goup the Foundation for Education and Development, said that the process of regularization is not so simple as just obtaining a handful of documents. It takes money, travel and time away from work, three things migrant workers often cannot afford.

“The people [working in] Ranau will not have difficulty. But those in Sulat, Phang Nga, and Phuket have to travel to Ranau. They can’t travel there immediately. They have to apply for a travel permit. If they arrive late due to various reasons or the if number of applicants exceeds the limited number for the day, they have to wait another day,” he said, giving examples of just some of the numerous stumbling blocs.

“Some people can’t wait so they go back home. They have to make another appointment to go back to the station and apply for another travel permit from the Ministry of Labour again. There are many issues like that,” he added.

The documentation process is also rife with corruption and extortion, with brokers charging high fees to help the migrant workers negotiate their way through the labyrinthine set of rules, regulations and papers.

“How can we stay without a visa or stay permit after the deadline is over?” Ko Min Oo said. “If [the migrant workers] don’t go back home, then action will be taken against them in line with the law.”

Workers’ rights activists estimate that at least 3.5 million foreign workers are living in Thailand.