Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin spoke about the news in the Thai Rath Newspaper’s assorted column section, on the case of Mr. Chart Nuchnad, residing at No. 11, Moo 1, Mueang Fai Subdistrict, Nong Hong District, Buriram Province, who was suffering. Ms. Sureimas Nuchnad and Ms. Kalaya Klanprakhon, his granddaughters, traveled to Malaysia to work in Thai massages and were later arrested by the Malaysian authorities. The arrest happened about a month ago.
Mr. Suchart continued that the government and the Ministry of Labour are concerned and ready to provide full assistance. He instructed Mrs. Ruangrat Adikari, Minister Counselor (on Labour) at the Labour Office in Malaysia, to accelerate assistance coordination immediately. As for the Thai workers’ homes, the Permanent Secretary of Labour instructed provincial officers within Buriram to visit the area to collect information. They received information from Mr. Chart (the father) that Ms. Sureimas Wangkaphan (Nuchnad) and Ms. Kalaya traveled to work in Thai massages in Kuala Lumpur with an unknown employer company. They were introduced by a friend who works in Thai massage in Malaysia. On September 8, 2021, Ms. Sureimas, Ms. Kanlaya, and two other Thai workers were arrested by Malaysian authorities for overstaying. Subsequently, on November 2, 2021, Ms. Sureimas, Ms. Kalaya, and the two other Thai workers were released on bail by their employers. Ms. Kalaya is awaiting her transfer to the court for further prosecution. Ms. Sureimas and Ms. Kalaya asked the Thai authorities to assist in the repatriation process to Thailand.
Permanent Secretary of Labour Mr. Boonchob Suttamanaswong instructed agencies under Buriram Province, the domicile area of the Thai workers, to visit the Thai workers’ homes to aid and information to the relatives and families regarding the benefits of Thai workers abroad following the law. From talking to the relatives, it was found that in this case, five people were arrested together on September 8. This trip to work was due to the persuading of relatives who were in the neighborhood. Previously, Ms. Sureemat worked in Pathum Thani Province. She has three children. She went to work on a tourist visa, and on November 2, the employer paid bail for Ms. Sureemart and will pay the bail for Ms. Kalaya again in the next 1-2 days. The reason for their travels to work was to earn an income to lighten the burden at home.
In this regard, those who wish to travel to work abroad legally will be protected by the law. They will earn reasonable wages and be well taken care of according to their rights. For more detail, call any Provincial Employment Office, the Bangkok Employment Office Area 1 -10, or the Ministry of Labour’s 1506 hotline, press 2 for the Department of Employment.
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Division of Public Relations
6 November 2021
