Twelve more stranded workers return from Dubai

The first 19 workers are interviewed by authorities after their return from Dubai. (file photo)

A second group of Thai workers who say they were duped into paying a broker for high paying jobs in Dubai that were cancelled on arrival there returned home early Monday morning, months after being abandoned in the Gulf state.

The 12 workers were met by labour officials at Suvarnabhumi airport and were being interviewed to determine if they were victims of human trafficking.

On Saturday the first group of 19 workers arrived back from Dubai after finally receiving help from the Immigration Bureau and Labour Ministry.

They were among 130 Thais who signed contracts in July to work in Dubai as welders with a promise of high wages. The workers were told they would get 30,000-40,000 baht a month there - much more than they would expect to earn in similar jobs at home.

But after arriving in Dubai their contracts were cancelled and they were left stranded. It was reported the contracts were revoked because they did not pass skill requirement tests.

Rights lawyer Songkan Atchariyasap recently asked authorities to investigate several job placement firms for alleged involvement in human trafficking.

According to Mr Songkan, the victims told him they paid brokers 50,000 to 100,000 baht each to secure the jobs.