BANGKOK, Aug 20 — Some 165 Thai workers have opted to stay in war-torn Libya but other Thai nationals who have requested to leave the country should arrive in Thailand by the end of this month, according to the inspector-general of the Labour Ministry’s Employment Department.
Singhadet Chu-Umnart said 861 Thais have returned to Bangkok from the North African country, composed of 845 workers and 16 students and others.
According to Mr Singhadet, 1,177 of the 1,342 Thais in Libya have asked to leave Libya following fierce fighting between armed groups.
He said a total of 316 Thais are still waiting their evacuation to Thailand.
Of them, 50 have been evacuated from Libya to Tunis,, the Tunisian capital, and awaiting flights back to Thailand.
Mr Singhadet said the final lot of Thai evacuees will arrive in Thailand on Satuirday.
He said the Employment Department has set up help desks to assist Thai workers apply for Bt15,000 in financial assistance from the Fund for Assistance to Thai Workers Overseas.
Application for the aid can be lodged at provincial employment offices and at the department, he said.
Mr Singhadet said the Social Development and Human Security Ministry’s Social Development and Welfare Department will pay for all travel expenses of Thai evacuees to their hometowns.
