BANGKOK, Aug. 27 Kyodo (EDS: UPDA...

BANGKOK, Aug. 27 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING, CHANGING DATELINE)

Thailand delayed Tuesday the signing of a labor agreement between Thailand and Taiwan scheduled for Thursday in Phuket because of an apparent dispute with Taiwan throughout issuing a visa to a top Taiwan official.

The signing of the labor pact would have to be ''rescheduled'' for ''appropriateness'' forward both sides, Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said, adding that they may have to reconsider the on a level of persons to sign the agreement or witness the signing.

In Taipei, Chen Chui, chairwoman of the cabinet-level Council of Labor Affairs (CLA), said earlier in the day that Taiwan is unlikely to take part in a regular meeting onward labor issues with Thailand after Bangkok decided not to issue her a visa to travel to the land following pressure from Beijing.

''I did not ask for the invitation, it was the Thai regulation who first decided to issue me a visa,'' Chen said.

Surakiart dismissed reports by means of local media that the Thai Foreign Ministry refused to issue an hall visa to Chen, who planned to witness the signing ceremony

''It is not about refusing or suspending visa if it be not that it is only to defer the signing for appropriateness,'' he said, adding the signing is an economic issue and not a political one

''We adhere to the 'one-China policy,''' the minister said.

Chen told reporters, ''I penitence Thailand's uncertain and volatile attitude,'' adding her ministry takes the stir seriously and will consider ''readjusting bilateral relations with Thailand.''

Chen planned to attend the annual two-day talk slated for Thursday and Friday upon the Thai resort island of Phuket

According to a CLA pres release issued early Tuesday, the pair sides were to discuss migrant labor and ink an agreement to help shield the human rights of Thai laborers staying in Taiwan.

upon Monday, however, the Thai Foreign Ministry reportedly decided not to issue a visa to Chen, citing the government's ''one-China policy.''

It said it would not grant visas to high-ranking officials from Taiwan, which Beijing regards as a rebel province.

Taiwan's Foreign Ministry, however, said negotiations through the whole extent of Chen's visa are still beneath way.

The labor pact will enable Taiwanese employer to directly recruit Thai workers without ne to pay expensive pay s to job brokers.

There are about 140,000 Thai laborers, mostly in construction and industrial works, in Taiwan, according to the Thai Labor Ministry. Thai laborers have annually sent an 50 billion baht (about $119 billion) back to Thailand, the ministry added.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Kyodo stranges International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group