Thailand in the picture (3): Labor migrants
Over the past two decades, Thailand has been a major destination for migrant workers from neighboring countries. As of November 2020, there were 2.323.124 registered migrant workers in Thailand. The conditions under which these people have to work are bad. They are underpaid, work long hours, do dangerous and unhealthy work, have few rights and are exploited.
Thai workers in Israel: repatriation and support after Hamas attacks
Following the recent attacks by Hamas in Israel, the Thai Ministry of Labor has taken measures to support Thai workers in the affected area. While some are being prepared for repatriation, the government is providing financial compensation and assistance in navigating the complex situation.
A government must be held accountable for its attention to the underprivileged, such as the poor, the homeless, the disabled, migrant workers and refugees. To draw attention to the problematic access of migrant workers to public health care in Thailand, I translated an article from news website Prachatai.
Five recent Covid-19 infections from neighboring countries make it clear once again that the virus enters Thailand through illegal border crossings. The Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) says the five infected are Thais who entered the country without crossing the border posts.
Thai government issues lockdown warning
The threat of a total lockdown in Thailand is not yet off the table. CCSA spokesperson Taweesilp warned yesterday: “Adhere to the measures and our guidelines or there will be a national lockdown until March. If there is no proper cooperation from the population and the situation gets out of hand, this ultimate measure will be taken.”
Fish and other seafood vendors in Bua Yai district say sales have plummeted following the outbreak of Covid-19 infections at a wholesale shrimp market in Samut Sakhon province.
More than 500 new Covid-19 infections in Samut Sakhon
The Thai Ministry of Health announced an emergency at a press conference due to 516 new cases of Covid-19, mainly among foreign migrant workers from Myanmar.
Covid-19 outbreak in Myanmar high risk for Thailand
There is growing concern about the Covid-19 situation in Myanmar, Thailand's neighbour. The Director of Epidemiology of the Department of Disease Control (DDC) spoke about this today together with representatives of the Ministry of Health.
Fewer professions prohibited for foreigners
The Thai government has decided to amend the list of professions prohibited for foreigners. There were 39 professions on the list, but there are now 12 fewer. The decision should solve the shortage of (unskilled) workers. As of July 1, 28 professions are still exclusively reserved for Thai.
Employers want to rely less on the list of work bans for migrants
Employers and organizations are urging the government to remove unskilled work from the list of 39 occupations reserved exclusively for Thais. That should help reduce the labor shortage because many Thai people don't feel like those professions.
'The invisible', Burmese migrant workers in Thailand
In recent years, there have been many reports of human trafficking, especially in fisheries, and poor working conditions in factories and other workplaces, while pay is very moderate. This mainly concerns migrant workers. Employers, police and immigration authorities exploit these people. Eighty percent of the migrant workers come from Burma and that is what this story is about, with extra emphasis on the problems of the female migrant.
Action at Lidl in the Netherlands for Thai shrimp
European supermarkets, including Lidl, sell shrimp that have been shelled and processed by exploited shrimp peelers in Asia. That is what Fairfood International says. The organization campaigned on April 8 in front of Lidl's Dutch headquarters in Huizen, which buys its shrimp in Thailand.