The Ministry of Labour joined forces with the Thai Red Cross, Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health in visiting Nakhon Pathom to raise awareness among foreign workers on how to protect themselves from the spread of the Covid-19 virus. The visiting committee met with the Provincial Governor, the Provincial Red Cross President, and heads of government to establish cooperation measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus among foreign workers in the area.
On April 24, 2020, at 10.00 hours, Assistant to the Labour Minister Dr. Duangrit Benjathukul Chairungrueng, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Labour Mrs. Theanrat Nawamawat, Deputy Director of the Relief and Community Health Bureau, Thai Red Cross, Mr. Pichit Siriwan, M.D. and the Ministry of Labour’s executives visited Nakhon Pathom to meet foreign workers at Ban Tha Talat community, Sri Sam Phran Market and Yai Cha community, Sam Phran, Nakhon Pathom Province. The Labour Minister’s Assistant and the group met with Nakhon Pathom Provincial Governor Mr. Charnna Iamsang, the Provincial Red Cross President and heads of government, to listen to preventive actions of the COVID-19 virus spread among foreign workers in Nakhon Pathom. The meeting took place at the Sampran Municipality meeting room, Sampran, Nakhon Pathom. He said that the Ministry of Labour has urgent measures for the Covid-19 virus crisis to prevent spread and provide relief for foreign workers. The measures include 1) Delaying the approval of importing foreign workers beginning March 23rd until the situation returns to normal 2) Relaxation of foreign workers to stay in the Kingdom and continue to work until November 30, 2020 3) Prevention of the COVID-19 spread among foreign workers, in collaboration with the Thai Red Cross and the Ministry of Public Health in providing knowledge and understanding how to prevent the virus. The pilot will be in Samut Sakhon and will expand to other provinces. 4) Public relations to raise awareness about the virus in workplaces 5) Providing medical services to insured persons who are ill from COVID -19 6) Adjustment of unemployment benefits and 7) Reducing the contribution rate and extending the deadline for submitting contribution rate form by employers and insured persons, for example.
Dr. Duangrit said that at present, Thailand has 2,660,159 authorized foreign workers, divided into 168,176 skilled workers, 241 lifetime workers, 44,800 ethnic minorities, and 2,446,942 general workers. In Nakhon Pathom, there are a total of 97,228 workers, divided into 2,206 skilled workers, 6,782 ethnic minorities, and 88,240 general workers. For measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus among foreign workers, the Nakhon Pathom Employment Office has requested cooperation from employers/companies. It has emphasized for foreign workers to comply with the regulations, such as employers and employees wearing masks or cloth masks, wash hands with soap, alcohol gel or antiseptics, ensure spacing between sitting or standing at least 1 meter apart to prevent contact or spread of germs through droplets, saliva and to control the number of participants from being congested or reduce the time needed for activities to be as short as necessary by adhering to principles of avoiding contact for example.
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Division of Public Relations
News by Chaninthorn Phettab
Photos by Chanchai Chaonongphian
24 April 2020
