Thread: Inmates from 12 prisons nationwide hired to clean sewage drains

Inmates from 12 prisons nationwide were hired to clean sewage drains in 15 Bangkok districts to improve flood drainage following Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt’s intentions, starting July 1st. Pattaya is also reportedly using inmates to clear out clogged drains to reduce flooding.

Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin spoke about the progress of hiring prisoners to clean the sewers throughout Bangkok on Sunday, June 26th, that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) had contacted the Department of Corrections to request support for prisoners to work on cleaning sewers as public services, initially starting around Huai Khwang market on July 1st.

According to the Department of Drainage and Sewerage which set the scope of work, the hired prisoners from 12 prisons would clean 249.60 kilometers of drains under the responsibility of the Department and another 280.76 kilometers of drains in 15 district offices, accumulatively a distance of 280.76 kilometers.

Somsak stated: “All of the working inmates would have their safety prioritized by wearing self-protection equipment and maintaining proper distance with people in the community. In terms of Covid-19 preventive measures, an ATK self-administration would be conducted on the first day of work and every 3-5 days. They would stay in separate cells and would not live with other inmates when returning from work. Inmates chosen for these jobs are “low-risk” inmates with a non-violent criminal history.”


“I would like to thank Mr. Chatchart Sitthiphan, Governor of Bangkok, for supporting this kind of public benefit project because it aims to help society and provides opportunities for inmates to work for money before being released. This is not about politics but only about what we can do to solve problems, especially during the rainy season, by prioritizing the benefits of society and the people.” Somsak concluded.

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The prisoners always came around once a year in the moo ban I lived in to muck out the drains.