BANGKOK (NNT) - The government is conducting more tests on both legal and illegal migrant workers in Thailand, in an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Prime Minister and Defense Minister, Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, announced the disease-control measures in a national televised address on Dec 22, and posted a message about the COVID-19 situation on Facebook.


The message said: "We must remember that there are some reckless people without a sense of responsibility. They behave selfishly, causing trouble for millions of people. I ask the people to live their lives more responsibly than before, and please be proud that what everyone has been doing. Every day has an impact on the country, regardless of its magnitude. We have all had a part in putting Thailand in a better position than many other countries. Concerning human smuggling networks, they must be prosecuted and eradicated, regardless of whether they are government officials or civilians. In this latest outbreak, most of the people infected are migrant workers."


In a meeting of cabinet ministers, the Deputy Prime Minister, Prof. Dr. Wissanu Krea-ngam, said he had a teleconference with the Governor of Samut Sakhon. The Prime Minister wanted provincial authorities to look into the smuggling of illegal migrants, following reports that some government officials, police officers, civilians, volunteers, employers and brokers are involved in such operations. If civil servants are also involved, the authorities have to thoroughly examine the complaints because they may be defamatory.


The cabinet meeting approved amendments to the Communicable Disease Act (2015). The amended bill will be submitted to the Council of State for consideration before presenting it to the House of Representatives. However, the bill may not be included in the agenda of the next House session, as it has only two months left. The legislation does not have to be enacted as a royal decree, and it is not a reform law. Therefore, the issue does not have to be rushed, as the current law is still effective. If problems arise, provincial governors have the authority to make decisions and manage their work.

https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/d...01224004945714