More than 100 Thai workers stranded in Uzbekistan are appealing for help after losing their jobs during the pandemic. <br /><br />The representative of the workers said they have been stuck in the middle-eastern country after the COVID-19 outbreak closed the factories.<br /><br />Uzbekistan has banned all flights into the country, which prevents the men from being repatriated. There are 102 in total.<br /><br />The group said that they were now living in congested rooms with other Uzbek and Bengali workers, which could risk them catching the virus.<br /><br />The Thai minister of labour Duangrith Benjathikul said that the officials were communicating with Uzbek government to try and repatriate the group.<br /><br />He said: "We have received the complaint from the workers and wanted to help right away but the Uzbek government has not allowed any flight until the end of this month.<br /><br />"We will need to negotiate further for an emergency flight so that we can help our people which is the most important thing."<br /><br />He added that the workers should have received the aid money from the government if they are registered as overseas workers.<br /><br />He said: "All workers that are registered with us should receive the aid payment that we provided for them unless they were deceived to work abroad illegally.<br /><br />"In that case, we also have the measure to help them but we would need them back first."
