The government may temporarily turn border patrol police camps into Covid-19 quarantine centres, to accommodate migrant workers who have been permitted to come work in Thailand.
Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin said on Thursday the ministry was seeking cooperation from the Border Patrol Police in a plan that is believed would help lower the costs of Covid-19 quarantining for the employers of these migrant workers, while ensuring high quarantine standards.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had expressed concerns over the impact the Covid-19 outbreak in neighbouring countries would have on migrant workers coming into Thailand through border checkpoints, said Mr Suchart.
The ministry plans to hold discussions with employers in the border provinces who now need more migrant workers to work for them, especially in the agricultural sector, said the minister.
The ministry is also considering using a Covid-19 quarantine programme for migrant workers being piloted in Chanthaburi as a model for other border provinces, he said.
In this project, some fruit plantation owners are providing Covid-19 quarantine facilities for migrants they are hiring, he said.
In terms of the prevention of illegal entry by migrant workers, the ministry has instructed its labour offices in the border provinces to support the work of security authorities.
