Sahasawat urges the Ministry of Labor to collaborate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to monitor and support Thai workers following the earthquake in Japan. He points out that although everyone is safe, measures must be prepared to assist with lost documents and temporary housing.
On 29 July 2026, Mr. Sahasawat Khumkhong, MP for Chonburi District 7 from the People's Party, expressed his concern for the Japanese people and Thai nationals after the 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture, especially the Thai workers affected by the event.
"I want to express my concern for all Thai workers. Although initial reports indicate no serious injuries among Thai workers, the term 'safe' does not mean that everyone's life has returned to normal."
Mr. Sahasawat proposed that the Ministry of Labor should take an active role in supporting Thai workers jointly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Consulate General in Fukuoka, the Thai labor office in Japan, local authorities, employers, and Thai community networks. The burden should not fall solely on the consulate or depend on workers in emergency situations to seek help themselves.
First, the Ministry of Labor must urgently verify which establishments employ Thai workers in the affected areas and where they reside. They should track individual workers, clearly identifying who is unreachable, who needs evacuation, who faces housing problems, or has other issues.
Second, Japan is a country with excellent workplace safety and disaster management laws. While we trust the Japanese government to oversee employers in caring for Thai workers well, this does not mean Thailand’s Ministry of Labor should be inactive. Therefore, the ministry should ensure all affected Thai workers receive their rightful benefits and issue announcements of workers' rights under Japanese law in Thai. This will help workers understand and avoid panic, ensuring they receive legal rights such as compensation, returning to work, residency status, and management of damaged documents.
Third, accessible emergency contact channels must be established for workers at all times, with Thai-language information about assistance procedures and earthquake safety. Backup communication methods should be ready for areas with telephone or internet outages. Further support measures should include temporary housing, issuing replacement passports or important documents, coordinating insurance rights and compensation, relocating workers if they cannot return to their workplaces, and assisting those who need to return to Thailand.
"I emphasize that these proposals are for the care of Thai workers abroad and involve the Ministry of Labor’s responsibilities. It is not solely the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or consulates’ duty. While consulates assist Thai people in emergencies, workplace safety, employment rights, and employer coordination are tasks the Ministry of Labor must jointly undertake."
Mr. Sahasawat stressed that the most important thing now is to ensure all Thai workers know they are not alone, understand the challenges they face, and receive support not only during the disaster but also in the aftermath related to their work and daily lives.
"I send my support to the Japanese people, rescue workers, Thai nationals, and all workers in the area. I hope everyone stays safe and overcomes this situation soon. I also call on the Ministry of Labor to maintain contact, provide care, and protect the rights of affected Thai workers appropriately. Stay safe," Mr. Sahasawat concluded.