Immigration deflects criticism | Bangkok Post: news
Immigration deflects criticism
Suvarnabhumi arrivals 'overwhelming' bureau
- Published: 12/03/2012 at 08:32 AM
- Online news: Local News
The Immigration Bureau is defending itself against a recent rash of criticism over its handling of arrivals and departures at Suvarnabhumi international airport, saying a combination of understaffing and a steady increase in the number of passengers has left it overwhelmed.
Natthorn Phrosuwan, chief of Immigration Division 2, which is responsible for immigration at the country's biggest and busiest airport, said the bureau was set up to manage a maximum capacity of 80,000 passengers per day when Suvarnabhumi opened in 2006.
However the number of people flying in and out of the airport has since increased to between 160,000 and 180,000 a day, he said.
Pol Maj Gen Natthorn said estimates point to the annual number of departures and arrivals increasing by another 5 million, or nearly 14,000 per day, within the next five years.
The division currently has only 1,045 immigration officers after 267 officers were either promoted or moved to work elsewhere, while new officers are still undergoing training that they must complete before they can start manning the immigration booths.
"Since New Year, the division has been flooded with complaints over the long lines at the immigration check counters, despite how hard our officers work," Pol Maj Gen Natthorn said.
"They sometimes even skip trips to the restroom when faced with a line of angry passengers."
At least 20 additional immigration officers should be added to the Suvarnabhumi workforce, airport director Somchai Sawasdipol said.
Immigration Division 2 hopes to negotiate with the Comptroller General's Department to allow it to use revenue collected through charging airlines per flight and passenger, in a move to fund improved working conditions and the recruitment of more staff, and to pay existing staff cash incentives such as bonuses and higher overtime payments.
Currently, the Immigration Bureau charges airlines 200 baht per flight plus 10 baht per passenger.
"Working at Suvarnabhumi is costly, given the high costs of living and expenses, while the overtime payments are too low. The work is also extremely stressful," said a source at Immigration Division 2.
The source said overtime payments add up to about 5,000-6,000 baht per month on average, but claimed this was not enough given the cost of commuting and the price of food at the airport, which staff have to eat if working double shifts.
The source added: "We have to work literally non-stop, and when someone moved to work at another airport, there was no replacement."
"Despite its glamorous image, no immigration officer wants to work at Suvarnabhumi. If they can choose, this airport would no doubt be their last choice," Pol Maj Gen Natthorn said.
"Heavy workloads, a high risk of facing a probe when it comes to a mistake, unattractive [overtime] payments and high living costs [in Bangkok] are among the reasons they don't like Suvarnabhumi."
Transport Minister Jarupong Ruangsuwan said he had recently discussed with Finance Minister Kittiratt NaRanong a proposal to improve the working conditions of Suvarnabhumi's immigration officers.
Mr Jarupong suggested cash incentives such as a "piece rate" of 25 satang per passport-check on top of their salary, and a reward of 100,000 baht for anyone who successfully detects a terrorist suspect.
Mr Jarupong said he also had instructed Airports of Thailand (AoT) to increase the number of staff who speak languages other than Thai and English, so that passengers who do not speak either can receive help with filling out immigration forms and understanding the immigration procedure.
By April 11, a number of automatic international passport check machines will also be installed to increase passenger convenience.
For now, the machines are only linked to the Thai passport and immigration databases.
Marisa Pongpattanapun, chairwoman of the Airline Operators Committee (AOC), a coalition of global airline managers, said the AOC was well aware of the problems facing Immigration Division 2 and had discussed possible solutions with the AoT and the Immigration Bureau.
She said it was important to resolve the problems at immigration because long queues can cause passengers to miss their flights.
"The matter really needs to be resolved for the sake of the country's tourism reputation," she said.