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Cambodian migrant workers are no longer required to provide Covid-19 health insurance to enter Thailand as the requirement has been waived by the Thai government since July1.
Ngor Mengchroun, deputy governor of Banteay Meanchey province, said that health insurance is not mandatory as the Thai government has eased many Covid-19 safety measures.
“The waiving off of health insurance helps workers who found the insurance very costly. Now, they don’t have to pay an additional fee to cross borders,” he said.
He pointed out that previously migrant workers were required to pay $50 for health insurance that covers up to $10,000 in medical expenses.
“If they are infected with Covid-19 during the first month they will get the benefit of $10,000 in treatment costs. If the amount exceeds this limit, they have to pay the balance themselves,” he said.
Mengchroun noted that now the restrictions are gone, migrant workers can stop feeling cheated out of $50 for a month’s worth of Covid-19 health insurance.
“Only 5% of the more than 200 migrant workers who return each day are unvaccinated, and as of today (July 11), we will no longer confine them. Instead, we will only subject them to rapid antigen diagnosing; if the results are negative, we will vaccinate them directly at the border,” he said.
He added that in contrast to the past, if they test positive and show mild symptoms, they can receive home treatment by following the guidelines of the Ministry of Health. Nonetheless, health officials will continue to closely monitor them.
Loeng Sophon, a Thailand-based officer for Cambodian labour rights group Central, said, “Many Covid-19 entry-point restrictions have been scraped for all travellers, including Cambodian migrant workers. So, they do not have to purchase health insurance before going to Thailand.”
Oddar Meanchey deputy governor Dy Rado said that even though migrant workers do not have to pay for health insurance, they have to follow the regulations like two doses of vaccinations and rapid test upon arrival.
He warned workers who are trying to sneak into Thailand illegally with the help of brokers that they are under the scanner of both Cambodia and Thailand authorities.
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