Why are 800 Thai workers stranded at the Kelantan border?

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800 Thai Workers Stranded at Kelantan Border Due to Inability to Afford Health Certificates

Approximately 800 Thai citizens working in Malaysia are currently stranded at the Rantau Panjang checkpoint in Kelantan, unable to cross into Thailand. The primary reason for their predicament is the lack of funds to obtain the mandatory fit-to-travel health certificate, a requirement for re-entry into their home country. These individuals are also unable to work in Malaysia due to the ongoing Movement Control Order (MCO), which has halted non-essential businesses and thus their income streams.
Health Certificate and Embassy Letter Requirements

To return to Thailand, Thai nationals are required to present a fit-to-travel health certificate. Additionally, they need a letter from the Thai embassy or consulate that specifies the designated border checkpoint for their return. This dual requirement poses a significant barrier for workers who are facing financial hardship, with some reporting having less than 100 baht (approximately RM13) remaining.
Thai Government's Facilitation Measures

The Thai government had designated 23 checkpoints across 21 border provinces for citizens stranded in neighbouring nations to return between April 18 and April 23. Each of these checkpoints has a daily capacity of up to 100 returnees. As of Sunday, a total of 2,548 Thais who were stranded in Malaysia had registered their intention to return to Thailand through these facilitated channels.
Broader Assistance and Border Reopening

The Thai embassy in Kuala Lumpur and its consulate offices in Malaysia have been actively providing assistance to Thai citizens in Malaysia. To date, they have offered support, including care packages and essential items, to 10,396 Thai nationals. Thai citizens working in Malaysia had begun returning to their home country following the reopening of the border on April 18, after an initial closure that commenced on March 23. Malaysia's MCO, imposed on March 18 and scheduled to conclude on April 28, has impacted the economic activities of many foreign workers.

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Why are 800 Thai workers stranded at the Kelantan border?

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