On May 15, 2021, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin visited the Center for the Covid-19 Situation Administration at the Social Security Office, Head Offices, Tiwanon Road, Talat Kwan, Muang, Nonthaburi. Advisory Board Members to the Labour Minister Mrs. Theanrat Nawamawat and Mr. Jumlong Chuayrod, Permanent Secretary of Labour Mr. Suthi Sukosol, the Social Security Office’s Secretary General Mr. Tosapol Kritawongwiman, Deputy Secretary-General of the Social Security Office Mr. Boonsong Thapchaiyuth as the director of the center, and the Social Security Office’s executives and staff, joined the welcoming. Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin reported that the number of Covid-19 cases has increased, especially in the red area provinces. The government, under the leadership of Prime Minister and Minister of Defense General Prayuth Chan-ocha, and the Ministry of Labour under the supervision of Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan is focused on controlling the Covid-19 pandemic. The Labour Minister has instructed the Social Security Office to work with the Ministry of Interior, the National Health Security Office (NHSO), and hospitals in the Social Security Office network, to conduct proactive Covid-19 screening for insured persons at no cost, under the “Workforce Fighting Together” program. The project aims to take care of insured persons in the social security system under Section 33, Section 39, and Section 40 by providing additional testing channels for vulnerable groups of insured persons in the Bangkok area. The facility in Bangkok is at the West Sports Building 1, Bangkok Youth Center (Thai-Japan) in Din Daeng, Bangkok. There are also facilities in other red area provinces, including Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Chon Buri, Rayong, Samut Sakhon, and Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. The Labour Minister has instructed the Provincial Social Security Offices in the dark red areas to work with hospitals in the social security network to arrange mobile testing vehicles to be set up in establishments to screen insured employees who fall into the risk exposure group. Those who are screened for Covid-19 receive the results within 24-48 hours. If the virus is detected, they will have to go through the treatment control process determined by the Ministry of Public Health. Employees who are insured persons in the establishment do not have to pay for the test.
Mr. Suchart continued that the program, including the testing facilities and proactive mobile testing vehicles, has screened a total of 112,064 insured persons. A total of 2,790 people were detected with infection, accounting for 2.49%. The Ministry of Labour’s Social Security Office has coordinated with hospitals and Hospitels, which are in the Social Security Office’s network, to treat infected all insured persons without cost. From the implementation of the project, the Ministry of Labour’s Social Security Office can help alleviate the Covid-19 situation by reducing congestion caused by screening services, reducing the spread of the disease, and preventing new clusters in the workplace. The project has helped build confidence among businesses, employees, and insured persons affected by Covid-19 to return to normal as soon as possible.
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Division of Public Relations
15 May 2021
