Migrant insurance wins nod

Migrant insurance wins nod

The Labour Ministry has agreed to a proposal to provide a short-term insurance plan for Myanmar workers coming to Thailand, to ensure they are protected from the day they arrive until they receive social security coverage.

Labour Minister Adul Sangsingkeo was informed about the proposal and approved it, said Anurak Tossarat, director-general of the Department of Employment, yesterday.

The proposal came out of a meeting between Mr Anurak and his Myanmar counterpart last week, in which the Myanmar labour official expressed concern over Myanmar migrant workers who arrive in Thailand and stay in the country without any life or health insurance during the time they wait for social security coverage, Mr Anurak said.

Myanmar proposed that a short-term insurance plan be provided for these workers, he said.

He said taking out insurance should be on a voluntary basis at this stage before these migrant workers arrive in Thailand.

It remains unclear as to how Myanmar labour authorities will proceed with this proposal, he said. Details of the proposal as it was presented to the meeting are still unclear.

Mr Anurak said Pol Gen Adul agreed that protection for workers was important in the event of unforseen situations like road accidents such as one that occurred earlier this year in Mae Sot district of Tak province.

The minister was referring to a bus fire in March that claimed the lives of 20 migrant workers.

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