Thailand has backed down in a row with Taiwan, agreeing to grant a visa to Taiwan's labour minister in order to salvage a pact on employment rights for migrant workers.

The climb down was ordered by Thailand's prime minister personally: "I've told the foreign minister to issue them the visas," Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra told a press conference.

Taiwan had refused to send anyone to sign the pact after Thailand declined a visa to its labour minister, a move Taiwan said was a "serious violation of international protocol".

Thailand was worried that mainland China would be angered if it played host to a government minister from Taiwan, which Beijing regards as a rebel province.

Threat to poor

Taiwan's labour minister, Chen Chu, hinted on Wednesday she might freeze permits for migrant workers.

At home, the Thai government's decision was met by angry editorials in the local press, accusing it of bowing down to mainland China.

Thai migrants make up at least a third of the 300,000 foreign workers in Taiwan and send money about $400m a year from their wages.

Mrs Chen had asked to attend a ceremony to sign an accord to protect migrants from illegal private employment agencies by setting up a government agency.

The new system would cut out high fees paid to middle men, who usually pocket about 200,000 baht ($8,300) from each job seeker.

In need of diplomacy

Thailand feared its diplomatic relations with China would be strained, as Beijing has protested strongly when other countries have hosted top Taiwanese officials.

When the row broke out two days ago, Mr Thaksin acknowledged that "China might be concerned" if it perceived a breach of its "One China" policy.

Announcing the change of heart, he said: "It does not matter what level of officials will come, as long as they are here for economic purposes, not politics."

But Taiwan may not be fully satisfied with the retreat until it has guaranteed that Mrs Chen will be given full honours.

"Witnessing the ceremony may be a further step, but is she going to be standing there alone without any Thai officials?," a spokesman for the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Bangkok said.

Thailand does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan as it recognises Beijing as the legitimate government of China and accepts Beijing's "One China" policy.