City Hall has approved a proposal to use prisoners to clean the sewers throughout Bangkok and improve flood drainage, starting on July 1.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt and heads of the city drainage department approved the plan at a meeting with the Department of Corrections.
It was agreed the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration would hire the Department of Corrections to clean sewers, using prisoners with good behaviour records, starting on July 1.
Previously, the city administration could not hire the prisoners. However, prior to the Covid pandemic prisoners were often seen cleaning drains around the city.
Prisoners will have to volunteer for the work.
Food and drinks would be provided, in addition to injury cover. The department would give 70% of the profits from the work to the prisoners.
A total of 1,000 prisoners from 10 prisons would be assigned to the work. All would be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and be given antigen tests before leaving the prison. They would not be allowed to meet relatives or visit markets or other public places while working.
