Passengers seen wearing masks in Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Thailand's Bangkok. (Photo: AFP/VNA)Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand is considering to allow migrant workers whoseemployment expires starting next month to remain in the country instead ofhaving to return to their home countries to re-apply for employment from there.
The decisionto allow the grace period, reached by the migrant workers' policy managementcommittee chaired by Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin on October 6, wasintended to stave off the spread of COVID-19.
The minister was quoted by local media as saying that if the migrant workers return to theirhome countries after having worked in Thailand for four years, as requiredunder the memorandum of understanding signed between the government and thoseof respective countries, they might seek to come back to resume theiremployment.
This raisesconcerns about them contracting the virus while waiting to get back andbringing the virus with them when they return, said Suchart.
There is areal risk of imported infections triggering a second outbreak wave, he added.
Although Suchartdid not say how long the grace period will last, he made it clear the issuewill be proposed for the cabinet to consider in due course.
Eligible forthe grace period are migrant workers whose four-year employment contracts endstarting from next month until the end of December next year.
He added thatfor the migrant workers, returning to their countries and re-applying for jobsfrom there while also being subject to anti-virus measures including the 14-dayquarantine at both ends would incur costs so steep that it would make suchtrips unaffordable and impractical.
Altogether131,587 migrant workers from Myanmar, Lao and Cambodia will see their workingpermits expire between next month and December next year, according to theLabour Ministry./.
VNA
