‘Health Problems Among Thai Workers’
By Finaz Daniel and Hadi DP Mahmud

Bandar Seri Begawan - A Team of visiting Thai medical professionals have discovered that many Thai workers are suffering from body aches, work stress and skin diseases, a report from the Thai News Agency (TNA) stated Sunday.

The TNA report stated that a five-member medical team, led by Songsak Tantayotin, the Inspector-General of Thailand's Labour Ministry, has been in the Sultanate since March 20 to provide medical treatment and advice to Thai workers.

The Brunei Times visited the embassy yesterday to find an empty tent set up within its premises, with a sign that said, "Free medical check-up for Thai workers, from March 20 - 25".

The Royal Thai embassy was unable to comment.

"Change in weather, heavy workload and the distance from their family members have caused many Thai workers to suffer from body aches including headaches, due to the lack of rest," said Dr Pirapong Pavasuthipaisit, one of the two doctors treating the Thai workers, in the report.

Many of the workers were suffering from skin disease because they had to work with cement, said Dr Pirapong, adding that "many of the workers have also asked for extra medicine because medical fees in Brunei were high, while workers themselves also faced a language problem."

"The embassy is unable to comment, and interviews with the medical team cannot be granted until permission from the Thai government is given," Komtad Likanasudh, a Thai embassy official told The Brunei Times.

The report also stated that the medical team was working 12 hours a day and planned to offer medical check-ups to more than 1,000 workers during the trip. The free medical check-up is expected to end today.

Inspector General Songsak departed the country on Sunday, the Royal Thai embassy said.

There are currently around 9,500 Thais employed in the Sultanate, of whom 60 per cent work in the construction industry, the report said, while the remainder are working in textiles and the service sector, such as restaurants and traditional Thai massage parlours.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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