The Ministry of Labor has imposed strict measures to prevent and contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among foreign workers from neighboring countries.
The measures implemented by the Ministry of Labor seek to (1) suspend the approval of recruiting foreign workers from 23 March onwards, (2) allow foreign workers to continue to stay and work in Thailand until 30 November 2020, (3) prevent the spread of COVID-19 among foreign workers by providing them with knowledge about how to protect themselves from the virus, in cooperation with the Thai Red-Cross Society and the Department of Health, under the Ministry of Public Health, (4) check foreign workers in various workplaces to ensure that they can work without being infected by COVID-19, (5) ask employers to screen and monitor their workers in order to control the spread of the virus, (6) screen and conduct surveillance at the Port-in Port-out (PIPO) Control Centers, (7) carry out public relations campaigns to educate personnel at workplaces on COVID-19 and ensure that they comply with suggestions on disease prevention by the Ministry of Public Health, (8) provide medical services for insured persons who are COVID-19-infected patients, (9) increase unemployment benefits, and (10) reduce the contribution rate and extend the date for filing forms on contributions made by employers and insured persons.
Any foreign workers who want to obtain related information on these measures may contact the Department of Employment at hotline 1506, press 6. Interpreters for respective languages will also be provided to assist and help protect foreign workers.
Meanwhile, the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration on 28 April 2020 reported seven new COVID-19 cases in Thailand, raising the number of confirmed cases to 2,938. Out of the number of confirmed cases, 2,652 have been cured; 232 are still hospitalized; and 54 have died.
According to an official contacted by PinoyThaiyo, this news article “Strict Measures against the Spread of COVID-19 among Foreign Workers” pertains to Cambodian, Lao, and Myanmar migrant workers.
This article is taken from Thailand PRD