Foreign workers to be allowed in

[reader]

From Bangkok Post

Five select groups of foreigners and migrant workers are expected to be allowed to enter the country as the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) will consider the 6th phase of Covid-19 easing this week.

However, although the country has been free of local transmissions for 55 days, an opinion survey issued yesterday showed that public sentiment was still against plans to open the doors to foreigners.

The CCSA spokesman said on Sunday that a committee assigned to consider the easing of Covid-19 restrictions has discussed the 6th phase of relaxation and the issue will be tabled to a full meeting of the CCSA this week.

The relaxation will cover migrant workers in the construction business and food export industry, foreign visitors who organise trade exhibitions, foreign visitors in film production crews, and foreign travellers who are members of the Thailand Elite Card scheme, he said.

He insisted the government still gives top priority to public health safety, while keeping the economy functioning is of secondary importance. Effective disease control measures will restore public confidence, he said.

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From Bangkok Post

Foreign inmates should teach English in prisons: Minister

Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin suggested the Corrections Department could consider using foreign inmates to teach English to fellow prisoners to supplement their occupational training.

Mr Somsak floated the idea on Monday when he and Labour Minister M.R. Chatu Mongol Sonakul signed an agreement to step up cooperation between the Justice and Labour ministries to address the problem of ex-convict unemployment.

M.R. Chatu Mongol said that under the agreement, the Employment and Skill Development departments of the Labour Ministry will provide training courses in various occupations for inmates before they are released and issue them a certificate to convince business operators to hire them.

The Labour Ministry is also looking for employers, both inside and outside the country, to accept trained inmates who suit their requirements, he said.

M.R. Chatu Mongol said the two ministries are already cooperating to provide skills training for inmates. In 2019, 8,084 inmates received occupational training and 70-80% of them found jobs after being released.

In 2020, the two ministries aim to train 1,840 inmates for jobs that are in demand, such as construction workers, carpenters and electricians.

Mr Somsak said the Corrections Department is responsible for selecting inmates for training. Between 20,000-30,000 inmates have been targeted.

Those seeking jobs abroad need to learn English or other languages used in countries where jobs are available, he said. As there are now about 2,000 foreign inmates in prisons, the Corrections Department has been assigned to select some of them with potential to teach English to other inmates.  

 

[vinapu]

"Welcome Mat"

somebody is being sarcastic here

[Guest]

Here's what they missed:

[vinapu]

now when we have bar boys added , what about their admirers ?

[GWMinUS]

On 7/20/2020 at 11:09 AM, vinapu said:

now when we have bar boys added , what about their admirers ?

Vinapu, you can join a Film Crew. One that will be doing Videos for the Moonlight Club!!!  

[spoon]

19 minutes ago, GWMinUS said:

Vinapu, you can join a Film Crew. One that will be doing Videos for the Moonlight Club!!!  

Hey, bar boys can use this excuse too! Lol

[Travellerdave]

Bar boys should be allocated an elite card. For us gay sex tourists they are essential workers

[TotallyOz]

Right now, the only flights allowed in are the approved ones by the government. I had friends who had tickets on Qatar next week and had a quarantine hotel but they can't take that flight from USA and have to wait for the consulate in their area (LA) to book the flight for them on an approved flight. It is not as easy as some think. It is what I call a PITA. But, thank goodness I'm here and can say hello to all the boys for you guys.

[reader]

From The Nation

Migrant labour from neighbouring countries now allowed to return

The Ministry of Labour has been given the nod to allow migrant labour into the country and it has clarified on the guidelines. Department of Employment director-general Suchat Pornchaiwiseskul said that the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Wednesday had approved bringing foreign labourers from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam to work as per the Department’s proposal.

CCSA has approved two groups of foreign workers:

▪︎ 69,235 foreign workers who have work permits and work visas who have requested a re-entry visa to return to the country and have not returned;

▪︎ 42,168 foreign workers who do not have a work permit and visa but whose employers have submitted a demand letter to the country of origin.

Both groups of foreign workers must obtain a certificate that facilitates entry into the Kingdom and a medical certificate (Fit to Travel).

In the case of a foreign worker with a re-entry visa and a work permit, after Immigration provides them an entry permit and visa, the foreign workers must undergo Covid-19 examination at the Disease Control checkpoint immediately and must be quarantined for 14 days at Alternate Local Quarantine (ALQ).In the case of foreign workers who do not yet have a work permit submitted by the employer for re-entry, once the immigration checkpoint has checked the immigration permit, the workers must be tested for Covid-19 and undergo six health check-ups, buy a two-year health insurance (in case they do not have social security) or three months of health insurance (in case they have social security) and spend 14 days in ALQ. During quarantine period, there will be training to give knowledge about regulations and living in Thailand to foreigners before starting work. Upon the expiration of 14 days in quarantine, the visa will be granted by the Immigration officer.

When both groups of migrant workers have been quarantined as required and no infection is found, employers can accept foreign workers to work including reporting to the provincial employment office in the area.

Cambodian workers are allowed to travel via Sa Kaeo province, Lao nationals via Nong Khai and Mukdahan provinces, Myanmar via Tak and Ranong provinces while Vietnamese workers must come by air and arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Employers and entrepreneurs are responsible for the cost of Covid-19 testing and the 14-day quarantine, approximately Bt13,200 to Bt19,300 per foreign worker, said Suchat.

[PeterRS]

1 hour ago, Michael said:

Right now, the only flights allowed in are the approved ones by the government. I had friends who had tickets on Qatar next week and had a quarantine hotel but they can't take that flight from USA and have to wait for the consulate in their area (LA) to book the flight for them on an approved flight. It is not as easy as some think. It is what I call a PITA. But, thank goodness I'm here and can say hello to all the boys for you guys.

A friend told me his this horror story from last weekend. He is Thai but has lived in London for more than 20 years where he has had a British partner for most of that time. Together they ran a small company. Three years ago the Brit developed dementia which matured into Alzheimers. Last year the Thai decided it would be best to move his partner to Chiang Mai, buy a house, get caregivers and a car and driver. He himself flew to Chiang Mai every 2 months for at least a week. He was planning to close the company and move back permanently this autumn.

After his early March visit, he could not return again in May due to quarantine regulations. Knowing that his partner was becoming very frustrated by his absence, he spent a lot of time visiting Embassies and airlines in London to see if his partner could fly to somewhere in Europe without quarantine. The UK with its dreadful covid19 rates and quarantine rules was out. After several days he got agreement that his partner could fly out last Friday on Austrian Airlines to Vienna. So he booked business class tickets for his partner and a carer. He also booked an apartment in Vienna for two months.

The flight from CNX was uneventful. Since you cannot presently transfer from domestic to international, they picked up their bags and went upstairs to recheck in. When tickets, passports and other paperwork were handed over, the manager was called over. After a consulation they were informed that they could not be accepted for boarding. They were informed that just the day before the Austrian government had banned entry to all non Schengen passport holders. In Vienna the Thai partner was going crazy since he had received cast iron assurances in writing and been given no notification about any new rule. In the end the carer realised they would have to leave the airport and get a hotel in the city. Just as they arrived at the hotel, there was a very apologetic message from Austrian Airlines saying they had been provided with wrong information. If they would immediately return to the check-in desk, they would be offered immediate boarding. It was all too late. The Thai managed to get them on a Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt the following evening. After a day of and night of rest, they got another flight to Vienna. All that fuss did nothing for the patients state of health.

Who coughs up for all the money wasted on tickets and hotel rooms I have no idea. Hopefully Austrian Airlines will. Hopefully also the people at BKK will in future know what the rules for each country actually are.

.

 

[vinapu]

2 hours ago, Michael said:

. But, thank goodness I'm here and can say hello to all the boys for you guys.

you have  a good heart

[vinapu]

17 minutes ago, PeterRS said:

A friend told me his this horror story from last weekend.

 

I'm afraid that across the world there are millions of such horror stories when fragile people are left at mercy of strangers in hospitals, care homes and hospices . In fact your friend's story is  kind of happy ending one as at least they are re-united.

[hank75]

9 minutes ago, vinapu said:

I'm afraid that across the world there are millions of such horror stories when fragile people are left at mercy of strangers in hospitals, care homes and hospices . In fact your friend's story is  kind of happy ending one as at least they are re-united.

And plenty of money for hotels and business class flights. My friend was recently quoted over $6000 for a 1 way economy ticket from Europe to Asia to reunite with family. 

[TotallyOz]

58 minutes ago, hank75 said:

And plenty of money for hotels and business class flights. My friend was recently quoted over $6000 for a 1 way economy ticket from Europe to Asia to reunite with family. 

My friend from Chicago was quoted 9,000 USD for an economy ticket to Thailand!

[Boy69]

Not only that the tickets are extremely expensive but there is a big risk of flights cancellation and God knows when you receive a refund if any.

[TotallyOz]

I have had a friend book 3 flights to Thailand and all were cancelled. They will get vouchers but on three different airlines. What a waste. I agree, a big risk.

[reader]

I have a rave for Singapore Airlines. My flight for BKK in June was cancelled. Received full refund back into my credit card account last week.

[TotallyOz]

Just an FYI, for the repatriation flights, there is no refund. If you don't make it, you loose your money. Odd right?