The Labour Ministry will repatriate a 45-year-old Thai national who has been working illegally in South Korea since 2018 after he suffered from a stroke, following a request from his family.
Narong Fanfuea, from Lampang, remains unconscious after he collapsed at his home on Jan 18, said Sombat Phodhiwatana, director of the Central Employment Registration and Job Seekers Protection Division of the Employment Department (DoE).
Mr Narong, who has been working illegally in the country for five years, was taken to Dongtan Sungshim Hospital in Gyeonggi Province for brain surgery, according to his wife, Rampaen Muangcheun.
His family sent a notice to the Lampang Provincial Employment Office and the Lampang Labour Office asking for help.
Buarat Deejit, his 65-year-old mother, said the family just wants to bring him home.
Mr Sombat said the authorities will pass the notice to the Labour Minister Counsellor of the Royal Thai Embassy in Seoul, who will work with the Department of Consular Affairs’ Thai Nationals Protection Fund.
The DoE will also contact the International Cooperation Bureau to work with the Korean Labour Ministry to help repatriate Mr Narong, according to Suwara Phongpanyanet of the Lampang Provincial Employment Office.
She said the man’s family asked the authorities in Thailand to help with medical bills.
Owas Thongbormakrud, director of the Overseas Employment Administration Division, said compensation payments made by the Department of Consular Affairs’ Thai Nationals Protection Fund do not cover Thai nationals who work illegally overseas.
The fund is for legal labourers who become ill, are injured, or die overseas, he said, adding Thai authorities would try their best to help with Mr Narong’s case.