Migrant worker and ethnic people’s children should get citizenship – TDRI

A social expert has proposed that the government grant Thai citizenship to children born in Thailand to ethnic parents or migrant workers, to address the declining birth rate among Thais.

Dr. Somchai Jitsuchon, research director of inclusive development at the Thailand Research Development Institute (TDRI), said that there were about 500,000 births in Thailand last year and these figures are expected to decline by about 100,000 over the next 4-5 years, because many families do not have children at all or just one child due to the financial burden.

Moreover, he noted that it has been discovered that about 60% of new parents are not ready or cannot afford to have children, adding that he doubts the government’s campaign to persuade married couples to have children will be effective.

Hence, he said he will propose the granting of Thai citizenship to children born in Thailand to…