Thailand plans to import 400,000 legal migrant workers

Street vendors in the capital Bangkok are mainly foreign workers (VNA file photo).

Bangkok (VNA) - The Thai government is planning to allow up to 400,000 migrant workers from the three neighbouring countries of Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar to legally work in Thailand, said Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman of the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

The plan aims to reduce the smuggling of illegal migrants via border provinces and prevent the spreading of the pandemic.

According to the spokesman, Thai Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin said that he had discussed with his counterparts from Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar about Thailand’s increasing need of manual labours.

Initially, Thailand will establish screening and quarantine centres in five border provinces of Tak, Ranong, Nong Khai, Mukdahan and Sa Kaeo, where migrant workers who pass COVID-19 testing can pass through and register to work in Thailand legally.

Taweesilp added that with the government’s effort in importing migrant workers, entrepreneurs no longer need to rely on smuggling gangs to supply them with manual workers.

He said the 400,000 workers will be free of COVID-19 and are vital to the recovery of Thai economy./.

VNA