A million foreign workers in Thailand are expected to learn today they are being deported to free up jobs for Thai victims of the Southeast Asian financial crisis.
A further million in Malaysia could face the same fate.
A plan for mass deportations, drawn up last week by Thailand's National Security Council, goes before Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai today for formal approval.
The first step involves the expulsion of 300,000 illegal foreigners, most of them Burmese, over the next six months.
Under the scheme, employers of illegal labourers will be given 45 days to prepare for their repatriation, or face legal action.
In addition to cracking down on the country's 980,000 'black market' labourers, Bangkok also plans to cut down on the 300,000 registered foreign labourers by refusing to renew work permits.