Lampang: Local authorities in this northern province are speeding up efforts to help at least 10 Thai nationals believed to have been lured to work in a massage parlour in China and who ended up becoming illegal migrant workers there.
The move is in response to a complaint filed with local authorities by Anuphong Tachina.
He said his aunt, Saengchan Kaeobunruang, 45, contacted him from China asking him to seek help from Thai authorities.
Mr Anuphong said his aunt told him she was among 10 Thais lured to work at a massage parlour in Tianjin, a major port city in northeastern China, roughly 10 months ago.
They have been abandoned by their employers and are considered illegal migrants after the massage parlour was shut down and the employers refused to have their visas renewed, Mr Anuphong said, citing information provided by his aunt.
Speaking after meeting Lampang governor Suwat Phromsuwan and Kanchanaphon Chaiyakan, head of the Lampang provincial labour office, yesterday, Mr Anuphong said they promised him they would try to help all 10 Thais stranded in China.
The authorities also promised to cover the costs of locating them and the airfares for flying them home, he said.
However, an informed source said Mr Anuphong received a new message from his aunt at 11am yesterday that some men from the parlour were taking her and the other Thais by train towards Beijing.
They had been staying at an apartment provided by the massage parlour owners, said the source.
Mr Anuphong also told the source his aunt was not certain whether the final destination was Beijing.