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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022466

No more illegals: South Korea to create 15,000 jobs for Thais next year

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2022

South Korea has agreed to increase the quota of Thai workers by 600% next year across three categories.

Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin made this announcement on Saturday after meeting with South Korean Ambassador Moon Seoung-hyun on Friday to discuss the problem of Thai workers entering South Korea disguised as tourists to work illegally.

This meeting was a follow-up on bilateral talks between Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his South Korean counterpart Han Duck-soo at the Apec Summit in Bangkok last week.

Suchart said he had told the ambassador that the government will continue cracking down on tour agencies that bring Thai workers to South Korea to work there illegally. So far 37 such operators have been prosecuted.

The minister said he has asked South Korea to boost the quota for Thai workers next year to help tackle the problem of illegal entry. Moon responded by saying that the South Korean government was ready to increase the quota as his country’s society was ageing and required labour. He also said that Thai workers are “diligent and good at their job”.

To start off, Suchart said, South Korea has agreed to boost the quota in three groups as follows:

• Quota for general workers under E-9 visa up from 2,500 to 5,000

• Quota for skilled labour under an E-7 visa, especially for welding, painting and shipbuilding industries, up from zero to 5,000

• Seasonal agricultural labour under E-8 visa up from zero to 5,000

In total, jobs for 15,000 workers will be created next year from 2,500 this year.

“This 600% jump in worker quota is good news for Thai workers as they will have a chance to improve their skills in an international environment and earn extra money, ultimately contributing to the country’s development,” Suchart said.

Related Stories

Prayut, Don send condolences to South Korea over Halloween tragedy

Halloween stampede in South Korea leaves at least 151 dead

First Thai death confirmed in South Korean Halloween stampede

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022465

Ministry downplays Covid spike as virologist issues mask warning

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2022

The Public Health Ministry downplayed concern over the spike in Covid-19 cases and deaths on Friday, saying infections would begin falling after New Year.

Confirmed infections in the week ending November 19 rose 25% from the previous week to 3,957 or an average of 565 per day, the Department of Disease Control (DDC)’s latest report showed. The death toll also rose to 69, up from 40 in the previous week.

“The recent rise in confirmed cases is within our estimates for a ‘small wave’ at year-end,” said DDC director-general Dr Opas Karnkawinpong.

Most new cases have mild or no symptoms and can be treated as outpatients, he said. The occupation rate of hospital beds has not risen significantly, he added.

The DDC expects more people to get Covid-19 jabs in the coming weeks amid concern over rising infection rates. It has asked provincial public health offices and hospitals to increase staff levels and notify the public of vaccination schedules to prevent crowding.

Opas said the Public Health Ministry has also deployed mobile vaccination units to reach people in remote areas, especially the elderly, those with chronic diseases and pregnant women.

Dr Yong Poovorawan, a Chulalongkorn University virologist, warned on Friday that the current Covid-19 strains have evolved to spread more easily.

“Now that most [disease] restrictions have been lifted, it will be even harder to evade this virus,” he said in a Facebook post.

“To stay safe from Covid-19, we should exercise regularly for strength, get adequate rest and eat hot, clean and nutritious meals.”

Yong advised everyone to get at least three jabs plus a booster every six months to maintain their immunity.

He also warned people not to stop wearing face masks and advised them to avoid crowded areas, and isolate for five days if they display symptoms or test positive.

Related Stories

Infection is as good as vaccine against Covid-19: virologist

Covid infections surge in Thailand, 3,957 more patients hospitalised last week: DDC

Thailand stops procuring Covid-19 vaccine

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022464

Heavy rain to hit Bangkok, 44 provinces on Saturday: Met Dept

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2022

The Thai Meteorological Department forecast that 45 provinces including Bangkok will be hit by heavy rain on Saturday.

The 24-hour forecast is for heavy isolated downpours across the lower North, Central Region including Greater Bangkok, East, and South.

The department warned people to beware of flash floods, especially along foothills, near waterways and in low-lying areas.

Waves in the upper Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea will be 1-2 metres, rising higher in thunderstorms. Ships have been advised to proceed with caution and keep off thundershowers.

The severe weather is being produced by a low-pressure cell in the upper Andaman and a monsoon trough across the upper South.

The department issued separate forecasts for each region.

North:

• Cool morning with scattered thundershowers in upper North.
• Isolated heavy rain in Tak, Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit and Phetchabun.
• Minimum temperature of 21-24C, maximum of 29-32C. Falling to 9-16C on mountaintops.
• Easterly winds 10-15kph.

Northeast:

• Scattered thundershowers in Loei, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Nong Bua Lamphu, Udon Thani, Kalasin, Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram and Surin
• Minimum temperature 21-23C, maximum 30-34 °C. Falling to 14-18C on mountaintops
• Southeasterly wind 10-20kph

Central:

• Widespread thundershowers and isolated heavy rain in Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Ayutthaya, Suphanburi, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Songkhram and Samut Sakhon
• Minimum temperature 23-25C, maximum 30-33C
• Southeasterly wind 10-25 km/hr

East:

• Scattered thundershowers and isolated heavy rain in Chachoengsao, Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat.
• Minimum temperature 23-25C, maximum 30-33C.
• Southeasterly wind 15-35kph.
• Waves 1-2 metres, rising in thundershowers.

South (east coast):

• Scattered thundershowers and isolated heavy rain in Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Narathiwat.
• Minimum temp 23-25C, maximum 30-33C.
• Surat Thani upwards: Variable winds 15-35kph.
• Wave height 1-2 metres and above 2 metres in thundershowers.
• Nakhon Si Thammarat downwards: Southwesterly wind 15-30kph.
• Waves 1 metre, rising in thundershowers.

South (west coast):

• Scattered thundershowers and isolated heavy rain in Ranong, Phangnga, Phuket, Krabi and Satun.
• Minimum temp 22-25C, maximum 30-33C.
• Southwesterly wind 15-35kph.
• Waves 1-2 metres, rising in thundershowers.

Greater Bangkok:

• Widespread thundershowers and isolated heavy rain.
• Minimum temperature 24-25C, maximum 30-32C.
• Southeasterly wind 10-20kph.

Related stories

• Cooler days ahead in upper Thailand as cold winds blow in from China
• Downgraded Typhoon Nesat expected to bring only light rain in North
• Thailand to escape typhoon Nesat but South gets flash flood warning

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022453

Anti-drug agency seizes alleged Chinese mafioso’s private jet in Hua Hin

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2022

The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) has confiscated a plane belonging to a Thailand-based Chinese businessman, who is believed to be running a drug trafficking ring.

Thanakrit Jitareerat, secretary to Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin, said on Friday that ONCB officials had confiscated the plane registered to Chainat Kornchayanan, aka “Tuhao”, at Hua Hin Airport in Prachuap Khiri Khan province on Thursday evening.

He said Chainat will be given a chance to explain his ownership of the plane, otherwise, it will be auctioned off.

“That’s not all. More assets will be confiscated … wait and see,” Thanakrit told the press.

The ONCB move came after former politician and massage-parlour tycoon Chuwit Kamolvisit handed to the police a document detailing Chainat’s assets estimated at more than 1 billion baht.

Chainat, a naturalised Thai by marriage, surrendered to police on Wednesday after an arrest warrant was issued over alleged drug-related crimes and overseeing a drug trafficking ring. The suspect, whose wife is an officer at the Foreign Affairs Division of the Royal Thai Police, has denied all charges.

Chainat was arrested as part of a crackdown on suspected Chinese mafia bosses believed to be behind drug parties in Bangkok.

On October 25, more than 200 Chinese nationals were arrested during a police raid on what was believed to be a drug party at a restaurant-cum-karaoke joint in Sathorn area.

Chuwit later surfaced, claiming that he knew several Chinese mafia bosses running illegal businesses in Thailand, prompting the Royal Thai Police to step up crackdowns.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022452

Proposal to let nightspots remain open till 4am rejected

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2022

The Alcohol Control Committee on Friday rejected a proposal for entertainment venues to stay open until 4am so that alcoholic drinks can be sold for 11 consecutive hours from 5pm.

They cited the findings of a study that extending the open hours of nightspots could increase road accidents by 27% and lead to 10-20 casualties every day due to drunk driving.

They also noted that records showed, despite police checkpoints and strict enforcement of the law, no more than 50% of drunk drivers have been intercepted.

Friday’s meeting of the Alcohol Control Committee was chaired by Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr Opas Karnkawinpong and attended by representatives from the relevant agencies.

At present, the closing time for bars and nightspots is 1am.

Sales of alcoholic drinks in Thailand are allowed from 11am to 2pm and from 5pm to midnight, according to a Prime Minister’s Office directive in force since 2015, which is a legacy of a 1972 order by coup-makers.

The panel also endorsed proposed measures to control alcoholic drinks during the upcoming New Year holidays under the “Driving without drinking, drinking without driving” campaign as part of a bid to promote safe driving and curb road accidents, according to Dr Opas.

He said the campaign would be implemented in three stages — before the New Year, during the long holiday, and after the holidays.
In the first stage, the public and shops will be told to respect the alcohol sale time and follow the ban on sale of alcohol to people aged under 20.

During the New Year holidays, police checkpoints will be set up to check the alcohol content in suspicious motorists and the drunk driving law will be strictly enforced.

In the last stage, convicted drunk drivers will be put probation and administered treatment.