Yesterday, the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) urged 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 13th February as unregistered illegal migrant workers, estimated to number 50,000, could spread the COVID-19 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 Visanuyothin 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 13th February 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 number of provinces recording infections during this second wave rose to 61 as 3 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.
