Migrant workers get flood crisis care
Relief center established to overcome cultural problems among laid-off labourers
Migrants receiving a checkup
- ucanews.com, Sam Phran
- Thailand
- November 4, 2011
NGOs including Church bodies in collaboration with the government have set up a shelter for migrant workers who have fled flooded industrial estates in central Thailand.
“Thai workers can go back to their home provinces or stay with relatives. But migrant workers have nowhere to go,” said Father Prasit Rujirat, director of Ratchaburi diocese’s social action center.
“It is also difficult for them to go to various other relief centers due to the language barrier and people’s animosity towards them,” he added.
Thousands of factories have had to shut down after flood water from the north bore down on them when Thai authorities failed to use run-offs to pump the waters to the sea. They were trying to protect the capital Bangkok but the city is now gradually being inundated.
Mobs have been breaking down flood barriers and Bangkok's schools have been ordered shut.
The new relief center, which is helping Cambodian, Laotian and Myanmar migrant workers is in the compound of Raikhing Wittaya School in Sam Phran, west of Bangkok.
Among the NGOs helping to run it are Caritas and other Church organizations.
“Caritas is providing milk and food supplements for children while Bangkok archdiocese is providing water, rice and meat,” said Jirawat Chenphasuk, program coordinator of Caritas Thailand.
Health checks, haircuts and sporting activities are being provided for the 560 migrants presently staying at the center, said its director Chokchai Srithong. Most were working in factories in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani provinces before flooding forced them out.
During a visit to the center on November 2, Thailand’s Labor Minister Padermchai Sasomsap said the center is also trying to find new jobs for the workers with firms registered with the Labor Ministry. “Around 150 migrant workers have gotten temporary jobs. For those who want to return to their home countries, we are coordinating with their embassies,” the minister added.
Pan Lai, from Myanmar who used to work in Ayutthaya, said: “When our factory was overwhelmed I didn’t dare seek refuge at the local relief center because many Thai people were staying there and I was afraid they wouldn’t like us Burmese being there. Here, we are being looked after.”
“Thai workers can go back to their home provinces or stay with relatives. But migrant workers have nowhere to go,” said Father Prasit Rujirat, director of Ratchaburi diocese’s social action center.
“It is also difficult for them to go to various other relief centers due to the language barrier and people’s animosity towards them,” he added.
Thousands of factories have had to shut down after flood water from the north bore down on them when Thai authorities failed to use run-offs to pump the waters to the sea. They were trying to protect the capital Bangkok but the city is now gradually being inundated.
Mobs have been breaking down flood barriers and Bangkok's schools have been ordered shut.
The new relief center, which is helping Cambodian, Laotian and Myanmar migrant workers is in the compound of Raikhing Wittaya School in Sam Phran, west of Bangkok.
Among the NGOs helping to run it are Caritas and other Church organizations.
“Caritas is providing milk and food supplements for children while Bangkok archdiocese is providing water, rice and meat,” said Jirawat Chenphasuk, program coordinator of Caritas Thailand.
Health checks, haircuts and sporting activities are being provided for the 560 migrants presently staying at the center, said its director Chokchai Srithong. Most were working in factories in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani provinces before flooding forced them out.
During a visit to the center on November 2, Thailand’s Labor Minister Padermchai Sasomsap said the center is also trying to find new jobs for the workers with firms registered with the Labor Ministry. “Around 150 migrant workers have gotten temporary jobs. For those who want to return to their home countries, we are coordinating with their embassies,” the minister added.
Pan Lai, from Myanmar who used to work in Ayutthaya, said: “When our factory was overwhelmed I didn’t dare seek refuge at the local relief center because many Thai people were staying there and I was afraid they wouldn’t like us Burmese being there. Here, we are being looked after.”
