Families Facing Documentation Challenges to Receive Compensation April 17, Migrant Times.
On March 28, a powerful earthquake caused the collapse of an Audit Office building near Chatuchak Market in Bangkok, Thailand.
As of April 16, the Thai Fire and Rescue team reported recovering the bodies of 44 deceased individuals.
Among the 44 casualties, the bodies of two Myanmar nationals have been retrieved and cremated at a Buddhist temple, according to a member of the Thai-Myanmar Interpreters Association (TMIA) who spoke to Migrant Times.
It has been reported that there are documentation challenges for the families of Myanmar nationals who died or were injured in the audit building collapse to receive compensation.
“The relatives of Myanmar nationals don’t have passports to come to Thailand, and their relatives in Thailand aren’t legal workers, and they don’t have Thai bank accounts. These are the current requirements,” said the TMIA member.
TMIA is currently working with relevant Thai government offices to secure compensation for affected Myanmar nationals.
According to Thai news sources, the Bangkok District Office will provide 100,000 baht per deceased person, while the Pakasakon Social Security Office will provide up to 1 million baht in compensation.
However, migrant worker advocates told Migrant Times that the exact amount of compensation has not yet been confirmed.
“We don’t know yet how the Social Security Office will determine compensation. If a worker doesn’t have documentation, will they receive the same amount as those with documentation?” said a member of WAG Myanmar.
Of the 44 bodies found as of April 16, the Thai Police Central Forensic Science Unit announced on April 17 that among the 33 bodies examined, 22 were Thai nationals, 10 were Myanmar nationals, and one was a Cambodian national.
The identities of the remaining 11 bodies have not yet been disclosed.
Authorities have received 41 bodies or body parts and 96 human remains, and have collected DNA samples from 97 relatives of missing persons for comparison, according to the Central forensic team.
Due to decomposition and fragmentation of some bodies, the verification process may take longer. DNA extraction from bones is necessary, which could take an additional 1-2 days.
The Central Forensic Science Unit stated that they are working with the Myanmar Embassy to collect DNA samples from relatives in Myanmar if the families of migrant workers cannot travel to Thailand.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) reported a total of 103 people were affected by the audit building collapse.
Of these, as of April 16, 44 have died, 9 were injured, and 50 remain missing.
Myanmar worker advocates told Migrant Times that Myanmar workers may be among the 50 missing persons.
Photo – The Reporter A Thai national who died in the building collapse being returned to their family.
- Migrant Times