The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) yesterday called on migrant workers to register with the Labour Ministry’s Employment Department, or have their bosses do it, before the current amnesty ends.

CCSA spokesman Taweesilp Visanuyothin said they should do so by Feb 13 as unregistered illegal migrant workers, estimated to number 50,000, could spread the virus if they or their employers avoid testing for fear of legal action against them.

“As most of them are young, they could be infected without showing symptoms and spread the virus to others,” he said during the CCSA’s daily media briefing.

Dr Taweesilp said the government had allowed illegal migrant workers from Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos to register online for a month beginning last week and ending on Feb 13 with no penalties in an amnesty intended to allow authorities to monitor their health.

Once registered, a worker will be entitled to live and work in Thailand for two years — along with a dependent, who must already be in Thailand and less than 18 years of age at the time of registration, he said.

The CCSA reported 374 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to date to 12,054. No new deaths were reported, leaving the accumulated total at 70.

Of the 374 new cases, 321 — including 311 foreign nationals — were found by active case-finding, mostly in Samut Sakhon. A further 43 cases were local transmissions found via the normal health system, and 10 new patients were recent arrivals from abroad.

The CCSA said the 43 new local infections were from Samut Sakhon (24 cases), Bangkok (10), two each from Ang Thong, Khon Kaen and Nonthaburi and one each from Ayutthaya, Suphan Buri and Tak.

The number of provinces recording infections during this second wave rose to 61 as three new cases were found in Phatthalung during active testing. Only 16 provinces have been left untouched.

The cases in Phatthalung were two Myanmar workers and one Laos labourer, while in Trang, two male Myanmar nationals working in a rubber processing factory also tested positive.

Last night, after the CCSA briefing, Samut Sakhon once again reported a high daily tally of 320 more cases, taking the day’s total to 694.

Source: Bangkok Post
Published on 18 Jan 2021

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2052447/illegal-workers-urged-to-trust-in-amnesty