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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014278

The Department of Employment (DOE) said Thailand is ready to allow in more than 160,000 foreign workers from three neighbouring countries under a memorandum of understanding.

DOE director-general Pairoj Chotikasathien said on Wednesday that the Labour Ministry planned to solve the labour-shortage problem after many were worried that illegal immigrants would spread Covid-19. They also questioned the process to import foreign workers.

The ministry planned to solve the problem in two ways:

1. Open the country to 167,961 foreign workers from three nations under the MoU.

Employers are seeking 117,029 Myanmar workers, 38,933 Cambodians and 11,999 Laotians. Precisely 144,709 workers have been given authorisation, with around 6,000 Cambodian and Lao workers set to work under the MoU.

Employers are mostly seeking Myanmar workers, but there was an obstacle in bringing in these due to the political situation in that country, he said.

2. Thailand is likely to authorise work permits for 2,132,469 Myanmar, Lao and Cambodian workers so they can remain in the country.

As for setting up a one-stop service point in their countries, it is a delicate move that cannot be carried out at the moment.

Pairoj asked employers who want to hire illegal workers to first think of health safety and risks from Covid-19. He asked them not to hire such workers as the department will import them legally under the MoU.

Published : April 07, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014276

The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry wants the fraud case involving the ministry’s savings cooperative to be made a special one so an in-depth investigation can be carried out, Deputy Agriculture Minister Mananya Thaiset said on Wednesday after chairing a meeting.

According to information, some 85 victims have been defrauded of 491 million baht.

An arrest warrant has been issued for two culprits for forging signatures and documents to withdraw the money. They had been doing this since 2005 by choosing inactive accounts.

The victims did not know money was stolen from their accounts as they couldn’t check their cash balance regularly for lack of a real-time online application. They came to know only when they updated their account books.

Meanwhile, the cooperative was said to randomly send account summaries to only some members at the end of each year.

Mananya ordered the Cooperative Promotion Department (CPD) and Cooperative Auditing Department (CAD) to report on the two suspected culprits and cooperate with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) to make this a special case so an in-depth probe can be carried out.

She asked cooperatives across the country to use a savings application made by the CPD and CAD so members can check their savings status in real time. If any cooperative buys time to do so, they will be under suspicion of committing fraud, she warned.

She asked members to force their cooperatives to use such an application.

Mananya said she would also write to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to make the case a special one.

The deputy minister asked the culprits to surrender and return the money forthwith to reduce the penalty after there were reports that they escaped to Vietnam and Laos. But she believed it would take a short time for members to get their money back.

Mananya asked the CPD and CAD to set up a working group to solve the problem and report within April.

If any officers are involved in the case, they should be suspended or removed immediately, she said. They should also be contacted by the DSI and Amlo under an investigation so their ill-gotten assets can be seized.

The deputy minister also ordered the CAD to check the financial situation of the cooperative to see if it could operate normally or not and to check the private auditors and blacklist them if they were involved.

Ministry permanent-secretary Thongplew Kongjun said he ordered the closing of the cooperative’s office to prevent anyone from destroying documents.

CAD deputy director-general Prakob Phongpao said there was likely to be more victims. He asked all cooperative members to check their savings and report by Friday.

Cooperative vice chairman Anchana Tracho said it has capital stock of 1.574 billion baht, savings of 1.6 billion, a reserve fund of 151 million, and an investment fund of 650 million baht.

Published : April 07, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014275

Bluedragon executive Pachara Messiyaporn will be charged for allegedly overpricing lottery tickets, National Police chief assistant Pol Lt-General Surachet Hakpal confirmed on Wednesday.

His remark came after police arrested Pachara at a luxury estate in Nonthaburi’s Pak Kret district at 7am on Wednesday under an arrest warrant issued by the Criminal Court.

However, Pachara was later granted bail of 100,000 baht and promptly held a press conference, insisting his company should not be blamed for the overpriced lottery tickets as it only provides an online platform for some 39,000 small vendors.

Pachara faces four charges – allegedly inputting fake data into a computer system, operating a direct marketing platform without registration, advertising fake or exaggerated messages and overpricing lottery tickets.

“Strict law enforcement will lead to a solution on lottery overpricing,” Surachet said.

He also said the police had been instructed to expand the investigation to see if there are more suspects involved in the case.

Separately, Lottery Online, the operator of the “Kong Salak Plus” lottery sales platform, said it would sell all lotteries that have a lucky draw on April 16 at 80 baht.

The move came after police raided the company’s office in Bangkok’s Watthana district on March 28.

The Government Lottery Office said on Tuesday that it is collecting data on lotteries being sold via the Kong Salak Plus platform for an investigation.

Published : April 07, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014272

Songkhla will soon ask the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) to change the colour-based categorisation of the province into a blue zone, or a pilot tourism area, to promote tourism in the province, Governor Jetsada Jittirat said on Wednesday.

Jetsada said the move was approved by the provincial communicable disease committee on April 5 after the CCSA lifted a ban on foreign arrivals via land and sea in the four pilot border provinces of Nong Khai, Udon Thani, Songkhla and Phuket on March 1.

Currently Songkhla is among 20 provinces in the orange category, or controlled zone.

Ten provinces are presently in the blue zone – Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Krabi, Chonburi, Chiang Mai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Phang-nga, Phetchaburi and Phuket.

These provinces enjoy more relaxed Covid-19 restrictions to promote tourism, including the opening of markets, shopping malls, spas and massage parlours as usual, with restaurants being allowed to serve alcoholic beverages until 11pm.

“Songkhla is also planning to launch a one-day trip campaign in districts that share the border with Malaysia to attract foreign visitors,” said the governor.

“Under the campaign, officials will provide ATK testing at border points similar to the Test & Go scheme. Those who test negative will be allowed to travel in the province and return the same day. There will be no RT-PCR test or quarantine for foreign arrivals,” he added.

Published : April 07, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014259

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has cancelled a Songkran activity at Government House next week in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Wednesday.

“PM Prayut said he thanked all agencies which planned the Rot Nam Dam Hua activity for him on April 12, but he would prefer they held the activity at their offices instead while observing disease control measures announced by the Public Health Ministry and the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration,” said Thanakorn.

Prayut also said that government agencies must set an example for the public in following the Covid Free Setting standard at their workplace and when holding activities that involve gatherings.

“Any agencies whose facilities are not ready for the Covid Free Setting should organise Songkran activities online to preserve Thai culture,” he added.

The Rot Nam Dam Hua ceremony involves family members gathering to pour lustral water on their elders’ hands in the form of respect, while elders give them their blessing. In the workplace, subordinates also gather to pour water on the hands of their revered superiors.

Published : April 07, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014256

Ministry of Public Health reported on Thursday (April 7) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 26,081 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 81 of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad.

Death toll increased by 91, while 26,011 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 1,584,473.
 

Published : April 07, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014249

The so-called Green cops on Tuesday arrested three Thai men for allegedly selling via a Facebook group a tiger cub smuggled from Laos.

Pol Colonel Wisit Plopmuang, commander of subdivision 1 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division, or the so-called Green cops, said the three were arrested at 7pm at the carpark of Central Westgate in Nonthaburi province in a sting operation.

Wisit said his subdivision received a tip-off from the Wildlife Justice Commission that a group of Thais had been selling wild animals via a Facebook group, so the Green cops planned the sting operation.

The three suspects were identified as Pirapol, 23, Pornthiwa, 30 and Chatree, 41. Their surnames were withheld by police pending formal charges. Police seized a four-month-old tiger cub from them.

Wisit said police had learned from the WJC that Pirapol and Pornthiwa were selling wild animals on a Facebook group. Police started monitoring the group until the suspects offered to sell the tiger cub for THB400,000.

An undercover policeman offered to buy the cub and the suspects demanded a deposit of THB200,000.

After the undercover policeman had transferred the deposit, the two asked him to bring the balance THB200,000 and collect the cub at the department store’s carpark on Tuesday evening.

Once the policeman had paid the remaining THB200,000, Pirapol and Pornthiwa led the policeman to Chatree who had custody of the cub. Other policemen hiding nearby came out to arrest them and took them to Bang Yai Police Station for interrogation.

The three suspects said Chatree had smuggled the cub from Laos via a natural border for the two other suspects to sell online.

The tiger cub was handed over to the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department. The department will check its DNA to determine its origins before taking appropriate measures for its rehabilitation.

Published : April 06, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014245

The National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department has banned visitors from taking foam boxes, single-use plastic bags, plastic food boxes or utensils into national parks.

An order to this effect, published in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday, came into force on Wednesday.

Violators of the ban will be subject to a maximum fine of 100,000 baht.

The department stated in the order that tourists would not be allowed to carry food or water containers made of foam or single-use plastic into any marine or national park around the country for the sake of natural resources protection and conservation.

The order said the ban was necessary to prevent damage to coral and ecology and to control garbage in national parks.

It said packages made of foam and single-use plastic containers such as plastic bags – which are thinner than 36 microns – plastic food boxes, single-use plastic cups, plastic straws, and spoons and forks are not allowed into national parks.

Published : April 06, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014244

The “Stand for Stray” project, which aims to improve the welfare of street dogs in communities and create awareness among residents, has gone viral among netizens.

The project was initiated at Wat Nang Nong in Bangkok’s Chom Thong district and Muang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi’s Pak Kret district.

Small, foldable shelters have been set up to protect dogs from the sun and rain, while volunteers have been deployed to ensure safety and order.

“If there are volunteers who sterilise, vaccinate, feed and clean stray dogs, the risk of rabies spreading will not exist,” the group said. “The solution is people should be aware and implement guidelines to tackle the issue together.”

Those interested in setting up shelters or would like further details can contact the Stand for Stray Facebook page.

The stray dog issue has long dogged communties where cleanliness, accidents and rabies are concerned.

As of 2019, as many as 109,123 dogs were stranded across the country, according to the Thai Rabies website.

Published : April 06, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014238

The Education Ministry will suspend the licences of teachers under investigation for misconduct such as sexual harassment of students, using drugs or being involved in corruption, a deputy government spokeswoman made it clear on Wednesday.

Rachada Dhnadirek said the Teachers Professionalism Committee recently resolved to suspend the licences of teachers being investigated for serious misconduct, without having to wait for the probe to conclude.

Rachada said serious misconduct includes sexual harassment of students, drug use or trafficking and corruption.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is serious about taking action against teachers over misconduct and has instructed the Education Ministry to take prompt legal action, the spokeswoman said.

Prayut also instructed the ministry to fire such teachers once there is strong evidence to substantiate charges of misconduct against them.

The prime minister’s instructions follow a report that a public school teacher in Surin’s Muang district lured a ninth grader to a hotel to have sex with him in exchange for good grades.

Rachada said the Education Ministry had ordered the Surin Education Office to speed up the investigation. The teacher has been removed.

She said the prime minster ordered all government agencies concerned to team up to protect students from being raped or sexually harassed by teachers.

“The prime minter emphasised that schools must be safe places for children and teachers must be good examples for kids,” Rachada said.

“If there are misconduct charges against them, action must be taken swiftly,” she added.

Published : April 06, 2022

By : THE NATION