Last groups of evacuees from Libya to arrive in Thailand Aug 24

BANGKOK, August 20 (TNA) - Last batches of Thai nationals in Libya are scheduled to arrive home on August 24, while 165 of them have opted to remain in the violence-plagued nation. An inspector-general of the Thai Ministry of Labour’s Department of Employment, Singhadej Chu-amnat, told journalists of the update on Wednesday, reporting that a total of 861 Thai nationals have returned home from the war-torn North African country so far, including 845 workers and 16 students and people. Singhadej acknowledged that 1,177 of a total of 1,342 Thai citizens have requested to be evacuated from Libya, following fierce fighting between armed groups, 316 of whom are waiting for their flights to return to Thailand, all are scheduled for August 24. According to the senior official, 50 of the 316 Thai nationals have already been evacuated from Libya to Tunis, Tunisia’s capital. The senior official said the Department of Employment has, meanwhile, set up help desks to inform Thai workers from Libya to apply for financial assistance, 15,000 baht each, from the Fund for Assistance to Thai Workers Overseas, with their applications welcomed at his ministry's all employment offices in Bangkok and provincial areas. The inspector-general noted that his department is also coordinating with legal employment agents to ensure that all Thai workers from Libya receive their wages and other eligible welfare benefits from their employers in Libya within 45 days. Besides, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security’s Social Development and Welfare Department has agreed to pay for all travel expenses of Thai workers to their hometowns after their arrival at Thailand's main Suvarnabhumi International Airport. (TNA)