He said the ministry would take four months to work on it before forwarding the amended law to the government, which would then take another two months to deliberate it, he said.

It remains unclear which parts of the law will be amended, but Government Spokesperson Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said that an “equilibrium point” should be made between labour facilitation and effective law enforcement.

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha today invoked his special powers as the NCPO chief, under Article 44, to suspend four key articles of the decree that prescribe much harsher penalties against offending migrants and their employers until the end of this year.

The decree took effect from June 23, threatening to fine employers at least Bt400,000 per illegal worker they hire. Workers, meanwhile, risk facing both a jail term and a hefty fine.

The introduction of the new law caused an uproar from various sides.

Several entrepreneurs have said that they will have to close their small businesses, at least temporarily, because the tough law will force them to terminate the employment of current workers and they will end up facing a labour shortage.

People who will lose their jobs have complained that they come to Thailand to work, not to commit crimes, and there is no good reason to force them into such a predicament.