BANGKOK, March 5 (TNA) – More than 5,200 illegal Thai workers registered with the South Korean immigration to return home and about 200-300 workers have already arrived in Thailand, said a Foreign Ministry spokesman.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Cherdkiat Atthakor said from Dec 11, 2019 – March 1, 2020, the total of 5,265 Thai requested to travel home during the South Korean amnesty, which allows illegal Thai workers to go back to their home country without punishment or being blacklisted within June this year.
Since the Covid-19 outbreak became worse, particularly in Daegu and North Gyeongsang province, more workers or upto 1,000 persons showed up to register with the South Korean authority to leave the country for home from February 24 to March 1, the spokesman said.
About 200-300 workers have already arrived here but the exact number is still unknown because they did not inform the Thai embassy, he said.
After reporting themselves to the South Korean immigration office, it will take about 3-15 days for the paperwork procedures before they can return home.
The ministry advises them to self-quarantine at their places for 14 days, while waiting for the approval. The Thai embassy in Seoul is asking the South Korean authority to screen them before sending them home.
The foreign ministry was assigned to gather their names and information about their homes in Thailand for further action after they arrive and undergo screening at the airports. (TNA)
