Following the Covid-19 outbreak in Thailand’s Samut Sakhon province on December 20, more than 2,000 migrants have returned to Cambodia and are currently undergoing quarantine at facilities near the border. None of them had tested positive for Covid-19.
During his national address on December 29, Prime Minister Hun Sen thanked all relevant authorities for their cooperative efforts to successfully prevent the importation of Covid-19 from Thailand through returning migrant workers.
“This is due to the quick action taken by the Thai government and authorities to control the situation. Moreover, our officials along the border also took immediate action following directives from the Ministry of Health. The government has provided everything needed by the border provinces,” Hun Sen said.
Part of the successful strategy has been due to the military transporting returning migrants, preventing them from taking taxis which might have allowed an infection to spread unaccountably.
Hun Sen also credited Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha for his attention to Cambodians living in Thailand.
“This is a high point in our relations as neighbouring countries. Thai authorities have handled our Cambodian workers without discrimination. Furthermore, I have heard that some undocumented migrant workers were given temporary work permits.
“These efforts are to prevent Covid-19, to solve the crisis and find jobs for our Cambodian workers. This cooperation contributes to the Thai economy as well as the incomes of our migrant workers,” Hun Sen said.
He said the government had enough resources to support returning migrants in quarantine and implored authorities to ensure that quarantine services were sufficient. If any province needs additional assistance, he said, they must inform the government immediately. He encouraged migrant workers still in Thailand to remain there for now.
“I received a letter from His Excellency Prayut Chan-o-cha calling on me to stop Cambodian citizens from entering Thailand while their country is fighting Covid-19,” Hun Sen said, adding that he had issued appeals to Cambodian people not to enter Thailand for work since the first day of the recent outbreak.
Moeun Tola, executive director of the Centre for Alliance of Labour and Human Rights (Central), praised the government’s latest measures for returning migrant workers, including transportation, health checks and quarantine.
“Preparations for welcoming them and conducting health checks were made appropriately. Moreover, the returning migrants were instructed on preventive measures, hygiene and quarantine procedures. Recently, the government has been using trucks to transport them to quarantine sites. This is good, and I applaud this,” he said.
Tola called on the government to do more for migrant workers, including helping them protect their belongings while crossing into Cambodia and ensuring that they are given adequate accommodations.
“Quarantine sites should be improved because people will agree to quarantine only when the facilities at that place are good enough. The people returning from abroad want to meet their families. Only when the service is good will they voluntarily stay in quarantine for 14 days,” he said.