Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin showed concern for employees in the cluster at a medical device factory in Phetchaburi who were infected with Covid-19. He assigned his Advisor and agencies under the Ministry of Labour in Phetchaburi to coordinate with the company and relevant agencies to support. They are prepared to use the ‘Bubble and Seal’ system to take care of the workers in the factory to control and prevent the spread of the virus according to the measures prescribed by the Provincial Communicable Disease Control Committee.
On June 20, 2021, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin spoke about the case where employees of Emerald Nonwoven International Co., Ltd., in Phetchaburi, were infected with Covid-19. He said that the Prime Minister and Minister of Defense General Prayuth Chan-ocha and the Ministry of Labour under the supervision of Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan are concerned about the Covid-19 situation in establishments. Therefore, the Labour Minister has assigned Advisor to the Labour Minister, Mrs. Thiwalrat Angkinan, to visit the areas with agencies under the Ministry of Labour in Phetchaburi, coordinate with the establishment, and integrate assistance with relevant agencies.
Mr. Suchart further said that from the Phetchaburi Provincial Employment Office’s report, Emerald Nonwoven International Company Limited is located at 88 and 88/1 Moo 2, Petchkasem Road, Nong Chumphon Nuea, Khao Yoi, Phetchaburi. The company is in the business of producing and distributing medical equipment. At present, there are 880 employees, whereby 361 are Thais, and 519 are foreigners. From screening (swab), 100 percent of the employees, 125, were infected with the virus. Out of the infected employees, 34 were Thai and admitted to Eco Cha-am. The 91 foreigners were treated in a field hospital Nong Chumphon Nuea, Khao Yoi, Phetchaburi. There are 75 people at high risk. On June 18, Phetchaburi Provincial Governor Mr. Phakphong Thawipat issued an order prohibiting people from entering or leaving the company. Measures were set to manage the spread of Covid-19 in the factory with support by the Phetchaburi Provincial Public Health Office officials to control the Bubble and Seal measure implementation. It allows uninfected employees to work usually. High-risk employees must remain in dormitories, and non-infected employees can travel from their accommodations to work at the company; however, stopping at any point along the way is not allowed. The establishment will be responsible for all three meals for employees who are quarantined for 14 days to control and prevent the spread of the pandemic according to the measures prescribed by the Provincial Communicable Disease Control Committee.
“For initial assistance, the Phetchaburi Provincial Labour Protection and Welfare Office have visited the area and the company to inform the implementation of public health screening measures to control and prevent the spread of the outbreak among workplace employees. It also informs employers to pay wages under Section 75 if employees are forced to quarantine or temporarily stop working, including the use of good labour relations to coexist so that the business can continue to move forward and employees are protected and cared for following the law,” concluded Mr. Suchart.
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Division of Public Relations
20 June 2021
