Thailand is now one of six major countries sending workers under the Employment Permit System (EPS) policy to work in Korea which is now welcoming back migrant workers from abroad after the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, Korea has imposed tough measures to ensure safe working conditions.
Tae Wuk Ha / Foreign Office
Tae Wuk Ha, Minister and Consul-General of the Korean Embassy in Bangkok, said EPS workers' travel to Korea was suspended in early 2020 due to Covid-19 prevention measures, health policies, and the reduction in air travel.
However, after close consultation with six countries, including Thailand, workers can now resume working there.
He said the six countries are Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Timor-leste and China.
Cambodia and Thailand are major source countries for EPS workers in Korea, comprising over two thirds of the total. Other countries send under 1,000 workers a year.
Covid-19 strict measures in place
To prevent the spread of Covid-19 infection, Mr Tae Wuk Ha said strict standards are applied in the entry process including a requirement by workers to purchase Covid-19 insurance.
They must also submit a negative Covid-19 (PCR) test result, undergo mandatory 14-day quarantine and take three PCR tests during the quarantine period.
"It is a priority of the Korean government to provide appropriate treatment to those who are infected with Covid-19 and provide vaccinations for workers to prevent infection while they are working,'' he said.
After entering Korea and completing 14-day quarantine, Thai EPS workers are automatically enrolled in Korea's national health insurance scheme.
"So, if the workers are diagnosed with Covid-19 while working, the cost of treatment will be covered by the Korean national health insurance system and no burden will be put on workers.
"Also, foreigners, including Thai nationals who have stayed in Korea for more than three months can receive Covid-19 vaccinations for free like Koreans,'' he told the Bangkok Post.
To get the jabs, workers must made a reservation through the internet or by phone.
Since the Korea-Thailand EPS Agreement was signed in 2003, cooperation between Thailand and Korea in the labour field has enabled about 94,000 Thai workers to work in Korea.
The Korean government believes that securing the safety of workers is a top priority for the countries' relationship.
"As a result, despite the pandemic Thailand has sent a total of 1,381 workers (810 new, 571 re-entries) this year, making Thailand the second largest source country sending workers to Korea,'' he said.
Covid-19 insurance a must
Asked if Thai workers wanting to work in Korea need to have their own insurance for Covid-19 before travelling to Korea, he said that whether a person bears the cost of Covid-19 treatment depends on the stage at which the infection is confirmed.
If the workers are confirmed to be infected during the 14-day quarantine period after entering Korea, the cost of treatment is born by them.
This is because the Korean government has applied the principle of reciprocity between countries, and the Thai government does not subsidise the cost of treatment for Covid-19 for foreigners, including Koreans, living in Thailand, he said.
"This is why Thai workers are required to have Covid-19 insurance before entering Korea. Purchasing insurance will help to minimise the burden of the cost of treatment for the worker. The purpose of Covid-19 insurance is to fill the gap between the quarantine period and post-quarantine period,'' he said.
He said that once quarantine is completed, Thai workers are automatically enrolled in Korea's national health insurance scheme and are fully covered. So, expenses for treatment will be paid through the Korean health insurance system.
In conclusion, the Korean government does not require Thai workers to have more than a certain amount of cash as a requirement for entry, he said.
When it comes to the Korean government's measures to help Thai workers who are infected with Covid-19 or die from the disease in Korea, Mr Tae Wuk Ha said the Korean health authorities are operating a treatment system for those who have contracted Covid-19.
Since Thai workers are also covered by the national health insurance system, if they are confirmed with Covid-19, they will be transferred to hospital or treatment centre run by health authorities and can get the right treatment until they fully recover, he said.
Since last year there have been 668 Thai confirmed cases in Korea and most have recovered or are recovering.
Concerns over illegal workers
Mr Tae Wuk Ha said some 140,000 illegal and undocumented Thais are still working in Korea. This accounts for 80% of the total number of Thai nationals residing in Korea.
Of course, given the Covid-19 situation and for humanitarian reasons, Covid-19 vaccinations and emergency medical services are provided to foreigners including Thais regardless of the status, he said.
"Many illegal workers came to Korea by paying high fees to job brokers based on exaggerated advertisements about Korea's high wages. Thai workers have to be especially careful not to be deceived," he said.
Illegal or undocumented Thai workers in Korea should return to Thailand voluntarily, he said.
"If they return to Thailand in accordance with the laws and regulations, they may visit or return to work in Korea again through the legally permitted ways including EPS, under which their safety is guaranteed by the Korean government,'' he said.