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BANGKOK, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Ministry of Interior said on Friday that as part of the government's efforts to ease labor shortages in Thailand, border patrol police camps may be converted into COVID-19 quarantine centers to house migrant workers who carry rightful papers to work in Thailand.

The powerful Interior Ministry has jurisdiction and is responsible for local administration and the internal security of all 76 provinces across Thailand.

Meanwhile, Thai Labor Minister Suchart Chomklin said that converting the border patrol police camps into quarantine sites would be one way to save costs for employers, as well as ensuring the high quarantine standards.

"We are currently facing a shortage in laborers especially in the agricultural sector," said the minister.

Suchart said migrant workers who carry work permits were mostly from Myanmar, Thailand's neighboring country now facing a surge in COVID-19 cases.

"Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had expressed concerns over the impact the COVID-19 outbreak in Myanmar, and he had stressed utmost importance in controlling and screening of migrants workers stepping into Thai soil," said the minister.

"So if this type of conversion of border patrol centers into quarantine spots, is successful, then other provinces may follow suit," said Suchart. "It saves a lot of money for the migrants' employers."

The labor minister said some longan fruit plantation owners are providing COVID-19 quarantine facilities for migrants they are hiring.

"But that means the migrants workers will have to travel long hours into Thailand to get to destinations, leading to huge risks in infections," said the minister. "Therefore quarantining at the border is most ideal." Enditem