Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin reported that the Prime Minister is concerned about Covid-19 outbreaks in worker camps. He has instructed the Ministry of Labour and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to conduct proactive Covid-19 screening for workers in construction camps throughout the city. Testing is expected to begin next week.
On May 25, 2021, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin chaired the meeting to discuss proactive Covid-19 screenings in construction worker camps. The Labour Minister’s Secretariat Mr. Suthep Chitayawong, Permanent Secretary of Labour Mr. Suthi Sukosol, the Social Security Office’s Secretary General Mr. Todsaphon Kritwongwiman, the Bangkok Administration’s Spokesperson Police Lieutenant Pongsakorn Kwanmuang, Director of the Office of Public Health in Bangkok Mrs. Panrudee Manomaipiboon, the Ministry of Labour’s senior executives and relevant parties also joined the meeting, which took place at the Prasong Rananant meeting room, 5th floor, Ministry of Labour. Mr. Suchart said that with the Covid-19 outbreak clusters in construction worker camps, Prime Minister and Minister of Defense General Prayuth Chan-ocha and Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, who oversee the Ministry of Labour, is concerned about the current situation. From examining construction worker camps in Bangkok, there were 129,542 people found from 841 camps, of which 53,550 people were Thai, and 75,992 are migrant workers. Target areas have been set for the most urgent group, which found outbreaks of a new cluster and groups that are clusters being monitored, as prescribed by the CCSA (as of May 23, 2021). Group 1 comprises Khlong Sam Wa District, Min Buri District, Lat Krabang District, Saphan Sung District, and Nong Chok District, totaling 8,805 persons in 83 locations. Group 2 comprises Lak Si District, Don Mueang District, Pathumwan District, Bang Phlat District, and Bang Kho Laem District, totaling 23,326 persons in 97 locations. Urgent groups include Bangkok’s Northern Districts, Central Bangkok, Bangkok’s Southern District, Bangkok’s Eastern District, Bangkok’s North Thonburi District, and Bangkok’s South Thonburi District, totaling 97,411 persons in 661 locations.
Mr. Suchart added that the Ministry of Labour would assign the Social Security Office to work with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and Ministry of Public Health to define measures and details about proactive screening, including setting checkpoints in construction workers’ camps. Currently, there are 11 hospitals ready to cooperate, with 31 teams and preparations in hospitals in the social security network, to carry out screening and treatment. The screening is expected to roll out within the next week.
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Division of Public Relations
25 May 2021
