COVID-19 Hotline Is Helping Migrant Workers In Thailand Cope With The Pandemic

COVID-19 hotline for migrants 


Image adapted from: Bangkok Post and The Standard

Migrant workers from countries such as Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar are often overlooked in Thailand, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, it’s difficult for them to access the necessary information to fight off the disease.

The Ministry of Public Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO), along with the NGO Raks Thai Foundation, came up with COVID-19 hotline, 1422, for migrant workers in the country.


Available in 3 languages


Image credit: Baania

The hotline will provide information and answer questions relating to the virus in 3 different languages including Lao, Khmer, and Burmese.

This means the workers will be able to talk to people who speak the same language, which helps break down the barriers they might initially have with Thai authorities.

Additionally, the hotline aims to debunk fake cures and address false information about the disease.

Maw la Myine (right) with his colleague Zaw Zaw Latt
Image credit: World Health Organization Thailand 

Maw la Myine, one of the hotline’s responders from Myanmar, said he’s proud to be able to help and serve his community during this difficult time. 

“The reason I went to law school was to assist my people and even if I am not a lawyer, I can say that I am achieving that goal now,” he said

According to the Foreign Workers Administration Office, Thailand has 2,551,246 of registered migrant workers from Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam as of March 2020.

This is such a great help to migrant workers in Thailand. We hope all of us will get through this safely together!

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Eddie Jirayu: