On March 2, 2023, the Labour Minister, Mr. Suchart Chomklin, the Assistant to the Labour Minister, Mr. Surachai Chaitrakulthong, the Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Boonchob Suttamanaswong, the Ambassador of Thailand in Canberra, Ms. Ajaree Srirattanaban and the Ministry of Labour’s executives met with the Chairman of the Board of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nola Watson, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Andrew McKellar, and delegation, to discuss the demand for Thai workers in the industrial sector and other service sectors. The occasion took place at the National Press Club, Canberra, in the Commonwealth of Australia.
Mr. Suchart said that the government under the leadership of Prime Minister and Minister of Defence General Prayuth Chan-ocha gives importance to promoting Thai people to work abroad. Australia is another country where the Ministry of Labour has a meeting for cooperation according to the MOU on sending Thai workers to work in the agricultural sector following the Australian Agriculture Visa (AAV) program. Today is the first time the Ministry of Labour from Thailand has visited Australia after the COVID-19 situation has improved. On this occasion, the parties exchanged views to strengthen labour cooperation and promote Australia to open more markets for Thai workers in the industry and service sectors. The Ministry of Labour is ready to prepare workers before work, whether by providing basic local language classes in English, cultural training, and awareness of the livelihood and living in Australia to workers before traveling to work. It is determined to raise the quality of Thai workers working abroad, as Thailand has workers in the agricultural, service, and construction sectors. The workers have potential and are both skilled and semi-skilled workers. They are another group of workers who are ready and capable and meet Australia’s needs. At the same time, the Australian labour market is a potential market, especially in the service trade and industrial sectors.
Mr. Suchart added that expanding the Thai labour market in Australia is a sustainable opportunity for Thai workers in the industrial and service sectors. The Ministry of Labour can provide industrial workers that Australia is in shortage of, such as high-skilled workers in various industrial sectors, especially in the agricultural sector, in elderly care, nurses, and in travel. The efforts are to create sustainable employment to promote cooperation in the labour sector to support the economic development of both countries, which can effectively respond to the demand and supply of both countries.
The Chairman of the Board of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nola Watson, said that today’s meeting was a good opportunity for Australian business representatives to have the opportunity to discuss labour information with Thailand’s Labour Minister and hoped to continue the cooperation in the future.
“The Prime Minister is trying to encourage Thai people to work abroad to have a job, a career, a stable income, and bring knowledge to adapt to their career to have a better quality of life. The efforts are consistent with the government’s policy that does not leave anyone behind,” concluded Mr. Suchart.
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Division of Public Relations
2 March 2023
