The Labour Minister expressed concern for the 205,522 Thai workers legally working abroad. He emphasized all labour ambassadors in the 11 areas under the Ministry of Labour’s responsibility, to monitor the situation closely. If Thai workers are affected by the COVID-19 virus that has spread around the world, they must be provided with full assistance.
Labour Minister M.R. Chatu Mongol Sonakul revealed that the COVID-19 virus pandemic has spread aggressively and has affected the world, as a result, many establishments in each country have had to lay off employees or shut down their businesses. Thai workers working in foreign countries are also affected by the situation. The Ministry of Labour has thus instructed and emphasized for all 11 labour ambassadors, including in South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan (Taipei and Kaohsiung), Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Israel, which currently have approximately 205,522 Thai workers working legally (as of March 2020), to closely monitor the situation. The Labour Ambassadors were also instructed to aid Thai workers affected by the COVID-19 virus from the different countries’ measures. In the past, the Ministry of Labour has supported Thai workers in various areas, as follows:
- Pay funds to help people find work overseas, helping workers whose employers have terminated their employment or that their employment termination has ended but cannot return to Thailand due to measures to prohibit aircrafts entering Thailand until May 31, 2020. The Ministry has paid a total of 18 people, 16 of them working in South Korea and 2 in Saudi Arabia, funding around 4,000-12,000 Baht per person. The aid is meant to support transportation, accommodation, food, medical expenses, and other necessary expenses while overseas (by actual expense not exceeding 30,000 Baht).
- Coordinate with employers or relevant departments to help extend the visa for workers or trainees who have completed the contract but cannot return, or if the visa has not been extended. It will coordinate with employers/recruitment companies to help supervise workers while waiting to return home. During this time workers are not permitted to work illegally.
- Assist workers who were terminated by their employers due to COVID-19, by coordinating with employers or recruitment companies in that country, and help the workers to find a new employer, to provide Thai workers with uninterrupted work, accommodation, and food.
- In the event that the employment contract has not yet expired but the company has to close down the business, the Thai Office of Labour Affairs overseas will coordinate with employers to pay wages as specified in the employment contract or agree on reduced wages, adjustment to daily wages or take leave without pay, by requesting to take care of the employees and stay in the same accommodation first.
- Coordinate with relevant departments to compile a list of Thai workers that are needed or wish to return to Thailand. Assistance has been provided to 838 people to return to Thailand.
- Public relations measures by Thailand and the Thai embassy in the different countries on the prevention of the COVID-19 virus. The measure also includes the provision of advice on wearing masks, the use of alcohol gels in the event that workers reside in risky areas or suffer from the symptoms of COVID-19, it will provide assistance through the Thai embassy by delivering a survival kit or give away rice for the workers to continue living their lives.
“Any Thai worker who encounters problems and wants to ask for help can contact the Thai Office of Labour Affairs at the 11 locations. If the relatives or family of the workers in Thailand coordinate for help, please notify the Ministry of Labour’s 1506 hotline, press 5, or contact the International Cooperation Agency, Office of the Permanent Secretary of Labour, call 02 232 1242, or the Provincial Labour Offices in every province to continue to provide assistance,” concluded the Labour Minister.
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Division of Public Relations
29 April 2020
