BANGKOK, 5 August 2014 – The first batch of Thai nationals evacuated from Libya has returned to the Kingdom safely while relevant authorities were present at the airport to provide them with prompt assistance.
This afternoon, 13 Thai workers from war-torn Libya landed at Suvarnabhumi International Airport on Emirates Airline flight EK 384. The group was warmly greeted by related officials and was given assistance at the customs checkpoint. Staff from the Ministry of Labor handed out application forms which were to be submitted by the workers to the fund for the assistance of Thai workers overseas for a compensation of 15,000 baht per person.
To claim their compensation, the workers were informed that they would have to present proof of employment in Libya to the Office of Employment in their home province. Once the document verification process is completed, the money will be deposited into the workers’ bank accounts within four working days.
Contacts are being made with the employing company in an effort to ask for the unpaid portion of the workers’ salary. The company will also shoulder all expenses incurred in the transport of the evacuees back to Thailand.
Initially, there were 18 workers set to return home in the first group; however, only 13 of them could travel back due to the limited number of seats available on the flight from Dubai. It is expected that 23 more workers will arrive in Thailand tomorrow and another group of 81 will follow on August 8.
