The Labour Minister’s Advisor announced screening measures by the South Korean government before sending Thai workers back. He reported that the Labour Minister had instructed Labour Ambassadors in all 13 overseas Thai Labour Offices to coordinate with employers to take care of Thai workers and spread awareness through online media about self-protection from the COVID-19 virus infection. If Thai workers become ill, the Labour Ambassadors will coordinate with the Korean authorities to receive hospital treatment, free of charge. When traveling to Thailand, it will integrate data for relevant departments, implementing measures tightly.
Today (March 8, 2020) Advisor to the Labour Minister Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jak Punchoopet gave a press conference to the media about measures to support Thai workers returning from South Korea to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The press statement took place at the Government Press Conference Center for new infections (COVID-19), Naree Samosorn building, Government Houses. He said that the Prime Minister’s orders are to closely monitor and take care of Thai workers residing in countries affected by COVID-19 and closely monitored countries by the Ministry of Public Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He reported that Labour Minister M.R. Chatumongol Sonakul has instructed the Labour Division in all 13 Labour Offices overseas, to cooperate with companies to take care of the workers to prevent infection, as well as raise awareness among workers through online media such as Facebook, LINE, Thai temple, Thai communities, Thai shops, and labour volunteers, to provide information and various measures.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jak further said that if a Thai worker is suspected of becoming infected, such as having a high fever of 37.5 degrees or more, or respiratory problems, the Minister Counselors (on labour) from Labour Offices abroad will take care of the worker and coordinate for hospitalization. South Korea is a country that the Ministry of Public Health has declared as a locality outside the kingdom, which is a dangerous and contagious area for COVID-19. The Ministry of Labour has worked with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Korean Immigration Bureau to facilitate Thai workers to return to the country. If Thai workers are ill or the results are positive for COVID-19, the South Korean authorities will send a hospital bus to pick up patients for treatment at a designated hospital, in which South Korea will be responsible for the cost of medical treatment, for all infected persons, without limiting whether the said patient resides in South Korea legally or illegally. The Thai people living in Korea illegally will not be arrested, prosecuted, or deported if tested for COVID–19.
When Thai workers boarded the plane and arrive in Thailand, the Ministry of Labor will work on the transmission of information to relevant departments, especially with the Ministry of Public Health and Immigration Bureau. The operation will be divided into two groups: 1) Groups traveling from Daegu and North Gyeongsang, symptoms will be monitored in South Korea for 14 days. There will be screening before boarding and screening at the disease control station at the airport. If passengers are found to have a fever, they will be repatriated according to the procedures by the Ministry of Public Health. But if there is no fever, transportation will be arranged to transport the group to a designated disease-controlled area for 14 days. 2) Groups traveling from other cities in South Korea, symptoms will be monitored in South Korea for 14 days. There will be screening before boarding and screening at the disease control station at the airport. If passengers are found to have a fever, they will be repatriated according to the procedures by the Ministry of Public Health. But if there is no fever, transportation will be arranged to transport the group to a designated disease-controlled area for 14 days.
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Division of Public Relations
6 March 2020
