New wave of COVID-19 infections on Thailand shines spotlight about employment situation of overseas workers

Pyi Some Aung spent some time working at the Central Shrimp Industry in Samut Sakhon for 13 years. For the very first time since he transferred to Thailand from Myanmar, he is barred from departing the premises.

His place of work became a significant cluster of COVID-19 last month. The outbreak at the marketplace has resulted in more than 3,000 infections so far, prompting authorities to close off the area and local apartments resided by a large number of foreign workers, largely from Myanmar.

“The lockdown commenced on Dec 19. When the announcement was produced, military officers came right here to bar every entry and exit, stopping persons from wandering outside. We are able to leave our bedrooms for a walk and live normally, but we’re not allowed to leave the market area,” stated Pyi Some Aung. 

“I haven’t had the opportunity to work yet.”

Mass transmitting of COVID-19 in Samut Sakhon marked a fresh wave of infections found in Thailand. A number of businesses have been afflicted by the outbreak and so have a large number of foreign workers, incorporating Pyi Some Aung, who has got lost his key income for weeks. 

Seeing that COVID-19 continues to jeopardise organization operators in Samut Sakhon, rights groups are worried several migrants, particularly those people who are not legally authorized, could become jobless and be pressured to get work elsewhere.

“Samut Sakhon took found in workers when the areas in the country were on lockdown previously," said Adisorn Kerdmongkol from Migrant Performing Group - a good coalition of neighborhood NGOs advocating labour privileges and welfare.

“Numerous migrants listed below are working illegally and living secretly. They have no health security. Consequently, we’re worried the situation could reverse. With factories shut, migrants would go back to the same state, which is jobless. They’d have to work elsewhere and that may be out of control. If that happens, we could face a major problem,” he added.

People stand in lines to get COVID-19 tests on Samut Sakhon, Southern of Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, Dec 20, 2020. (Image: AP Image/Jerry Harmer)

This past year, Thailand reported zero instances locally for many months. However the situation turned ugly after a 67-year-previous Thai vendor at the Central Shrimp Marketplace tested great for the disease on Dec 17 despite no overseas travel records.

THE CONDITION Control Department has so far reported a lot more than 3,200 cases of COVID-19 in 44 provinces with links to the outbreak in Samut Sakhon. Its deputy director Thanarak Phaliphat explained the occupation situation of migrant personnel is a reason for concern.

“In the event that you ask whether we're worried, I have to state we are. But in conditions of what we are able to do, here is the responsibility of different governmental units. As well, it's also the responsibility of the private sector, which has to understand and create a policy of certainly not employing these migrating workers," he told CNA.

KEEPING MIGRANT Staff EMPLOYED May LIMIT COVID-19 TRANSMISSION: NGO

Samut Sakhon is a good coastal province southwest of Bangkok. It is a hub of Thailand’s seafood market and residence to a large quantity of factories and overseas workers.

Based on info from the Department of Employment, several 240,000 migrants are employed in the province. Even so, according to Adisorn, around 200,000 others happen to be believed to be functioning there illegally and some have previously lost their jobs therefore of the new outbreak.

The non permanent closure of the Central Shrimp Industry means several businesses cannot operate. As well, Adisorn said, concern with inspection and arrest by the authorities have got led some companies to lay off against the law foreign workers.

Pyi Most Aung said most migrants are worried about losing their jobs once the market reopens.

“As the market isn’t open up yet, nobody knows if indeed they still include their jobs,” he told CNA. 

Some are concerned they may not obtain jobs back, their employers may not hire them again, or perhaps they wouldn’t be able to send money residence because they aren’t performing.

To avoid mass labour activities and limit the risk of transmission, Adisorn from Migrant Performing Group said the Thai authorities needs to keep as many migrants employed as conceivable.

“We have to find out how to delay unemployment as much as possible. In case it must happen, there must be some financial settlement to permit t hem to remain on and look for jobs in the province without having to go move somewhere else,” Adisorn told CNA.

“Eventually, when they actually can’t stay there any longer and have to go, their movement ought to be directed simply by the Ministry of Labour, which could find them fresh employers in the areas while ensuring safe movement." 

On Dec 29, the cabinet granted a particular approval for foreign staff from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar to keep residing and performing legally in Thailand until Feb 13, 2023 amid the spread of COVID-19. The proposal was put forth by the Ministry of Labour within the government's efforts to regulate local transmission.

The mark groups include Cambodian, Laotian and Myanmar nationals whose work permits have expired, undocumented foreign employees and their children aged no more than 18.

MASS TESTING Major TO OVERALL EFFORT

Since the outbreak in Samut Sakhon, Thai health officials explained they have drawn on Singapore's experience to control the transmission, with some adjustments to suit the neighborhood context. Infected patients happen to be separated from the Central Shrimp Marketplace for treatment at discipline hospitals, as proactive evaluating continues in overseas communities.

Regarding to Thanarak, those people who are confined on the market region and local apartments are patients who've recovered and residents tests negative designed for COVID-19 who continue being monitored.

“There is absolutely no other way than to handle tests in the Myanmar communities whenever you can also to do it more rapidly than before, which will have to continue for some time,” he said.

“However, it can be difficult to test every migrant employee because there are hence many of them,” he added. “Consequently, the technique is to handle tests and independent the patients as a way to stop the transmitting. It’s likely a whole lot of testing will be completed almost weekly for an unknown time period.”

On Tuesday (Jan 12), Thailand reported 287 new cases of COVID-19, taking the total case quantity to 10,834. So far, 6,732 individuals have recovered and 67 have died.