As many as ‘100,000’ Thai labourers could be returning from South Korea

[webfact]

As many as ‘100,000’ Thai labourers could be returning from South Korea

By The Nation

 

FILE photo

 

The number of Thai labourers returning from South Korea might reach 100,000 as some have been illegally working in that country, Deputy Permanent Secretary and Public Health Ministry spokesman Dr Opas Karnkawinpong said, requesting all Thais in South Korea to call hotline 1422 and enter self-quarantine for 14 days.

 

Opas said today (March 3) that the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Thailand have remained the same – 43 confirmed, 31 recoveries, 11 under medical care, and one death.

 

The Public Health Ministry cannot yet confirm the real number of labourers returning and have urgently asked the South Korean immigration office to send the list of names. Opas forecasts that the real number would be around 100,000.

 

“Even if they are illegal labourers, we still have to take care of them as they are Thais,” he said.

 

The Transport Ministry is keeping a close watch on the entry points the labourers use – by plane or boat – while the immigration office will check the history of their travel in and out of the country.

 

Meanwhile, the Labour Ministry said 5,248 workers have returned to Thailand between December 11, 2019, and March 1, 2020. February 24 to March 1 was the period when as many as 1,181 illegal workers volunteered to travel back.

 

When illegal Thai labourers return, they will be screened and considered as "patients under investigation" before being transferred to hospital if needed. If they are confirmed to have Covid-19, the ministry will also ask those who have been in close contact with them to take a test.

 

Those who have already come back, or neighbours of anyone who has returned from a high-risk area should call hotline 1422 to notify the Disease Control Department. The identity of these callers will remain secret.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30383258

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-03-03

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[kotsak]

tick..tock..tick..tock..

 

[smedly]

12 minutes ago, kotsak said:

tick..tock..tick..tock..

 

still only 43 and 11 ……………..……………………. confirmed 

 

 

If you don't test then you don't have to lie about the numbers

[unamazedloso]

That translates to possibly 28,500 infected given the article earlier stating potentially 2 out of 7 are infected???? Oh dear!!

[YetAnother]

Thailand cannot manage it's own drivers' licenses, think they can manage this? 

[metempsychotic]

2 minutes ago, YetAnother said:

Thailand cannot manage it's own drivers' licenses, think they can manage this? 

Im sorry, drivers licenses? 

 

Is this supposed to make sense?

 

I realize the need to type something, anything, can be strong, but need you really have bothered to share this? 

 

 

[Ventenio]

Don't worry!!!  Let me do some algorithmic projections based on my tourism metric...

 

100,000 plus 43 and then 92472349823 239434982 234923409 2048348304 238423-4832

 

Equals.....  43

 

Carry on.  

Edited March 3, 2020 by Ventenio

[RichardColeman]

Now if only Thai Airways could cash in on it

[Berkshire]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Meanwhile, the Labour Ministry said 5,248 workers have returned to Thailand between December 11, 2019, and March 1, 2020.

It would be helpful to know if these Thais were in Daegu or associated with the Shincheonji Church in any way.  

[DrTuner]

Slice 'em lemons, corona is coming in droves.

[trainman34014]

100,000 people that will disobey self-quarantine orders as they need work as soon as they get back.    Don't go ordering any workmen to build extensions etc for the rest of the year and lock up all your valuables securley, as Burglaries are gonna soar !

Edited March 3, 2020 by trainman34014

[legend49]

100,000 as some have been illegally working in that country

 

Yet one alien works illegally in Thailand the sky falls in. Double standards?

[Searat7]

South Korea should never have given Thais a 90 day tourist visa.

[justin case]

2 hours ago, legend49 said:

100,000 as some have been illegally working in that country

 

Yet one alien works illegally in Thailand the sky falls in. Double standards?

same as thai able to buy company/land/house in other countries

 

hope S-korea bans them FOR LIFE

Edited March 4, 2020 by justin case

[Yadon Toploy]

24 minutes ago, justin case said:

same as thai able to buy company/land/house in other countries

 

hope S-korea bans them FOR LIFE

Time for countries to start reciprocal laws.

 

[TheFishman1]

They said a few like 150 working girls where in Daegu but no worries I am sure all of them with stay home 14 days Lol TIT

[rvaviator]

1 hour ago, justin case said:

same as thai able to buy company/land/house in other countries

 

hope S-korea bans them FOR LIFE

Why would SK ban them ?  They need the workers .. if not they would not have any workers ... Supply and demand

[Caldera]

"Some" have been working illegally. I see. How many is "some", a few thousand of those 100,000 or more like 95,000?

 

[sammieuk1]

“Even if they are illegal labourers, we still have to take care of them as they are Thais,” he said.

 

Dr Opas have you still got the keys to the drug cupboard ???? 

[RotBenz8888]

Perhaps Thai immigration could lend Korea some of the sa-mart BMWs to find all the Thai illegal aliens?

[fruitman]

20 hours ago, YetAnother said:

Thailand cannot manage it's own drivers' licenses, think they can manage this? 

They even cannot manage the price of the lottery tickets....can anyone name something they can handle well?

[CGW]

1 minute ago, fruitman said:

can anyone name something they can handle well?

Corruption! partaking thereof? 

[trainman34014]

2 hours ago, Yadon Toploy said:

Time for countries to start reciprocal laws.

 

Been saying that for nearly 20 years but ain't nobody listening !

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, Searat7 said:

South Korea should never have given Thais a 90 day tourist visa.

South Korea needs immigrant labour the same as Thais allow Myanmarese/Cambotians a certain amount of freedom etc etc 

[Chaaang]

2 hours ago, justin case said:

same as thai able to buy company/land/house in other countries

 

hope S-korea bans them FOR LIFE

How many Thais are able to buy company/land/house in other countries? And now compare it to the number of foreigners from different countries that have a purchase power. If Thailand says "OK, everybody can buy land, houses etc." in a year all land will belong to foreigners.

In China it's even better, no one but the state can own land. Some laowai (farangs) bought apartments, houses there... but at the end it's a rent for 90 (now maybe even less) years. And at any time government can kick you out, if they would like to use the land your house standing on. Same goes for chinese, no one owns land in China.

Another example, - some eastern European countries that were "selling" PRs in exchange of purchasing a property. First it was 100k EUR, then 250k EUR. And now most of them said "Well, we have changed our mind, get out.". People purchased properties from 100k to 500k+ EUR and now they are being forced out ???? If you want to see your property - apply for a tourist visa.

Or, another example of "Yes, let's allow everybody to do whatever they want.", - Canada. Half of the properties belong to Chinese. Prices up, locals cannot afford to buy land, or property and forced to live in a shared accommodation that belongs to... Chinese!

[emptypockets]

What are the drivers for the sudden exodus from S Korea? Are they being kicked out? or simply scared of the virus? I don't know why they think they would be safer back home to be honest.