On February 19, 2025, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labour, welcomed Mr. Kuroda Jun, President of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO Bangkok), and Mr. To Kozo, President of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce, Bangkok (JCC Bangkok) and delegation, to discuss economic trends, employment, and labour policy proposals at the Ministry of Labour. Mr. Aree Krainara, the Secretariat to the Labour Minister, Mr. Phuchong Worasri, assigned to the Office of the Prime Minister and currently serving at the Ministry of Labour, Mr. Sakdinart Sonthisakyotin, Assistant to the Permanent Secretary of Labour, and the Ministry of Labour’s executives, joined the welcome.
Thailand-Japan Move Forward on Labour Cooperation
The Labour Minister emphasized that Japan is an essential investor in Thailand. The Ministry of Labour is ready to listen to the economic outlook survey results from the second half of 2024, especially the issues of minimum wages, business competition, and personnel development guidelines. The proposals received will be used to improve labour policies to meet the needs of both Japanese and Thai employers.
Resolving Personnel Shortages and Requesting Cooperation from Entrepreneurs
The Minister of Labour gave assurance that the Ministry of Labour, through the Department of Employment, is ready to support the solution to labour shortages, especially for engineers and senior managers. He also asked for cooperation from the business sector affected by the minimum wage increase to consider alternatives before reducing the number of employees. The Ministry of Labour is ready to provide its full support.
JETRO and JCC Emphasize the Importance of Thai Personnel.
The Japanese private sector representatives emphasized that creating a level playing field has an impact on employment in Thailand. They suggested that the Thai government accelerate the development of personnel in tourism, airports, IT, and science to increase the country’s competitiveness.
70 Years of Strong Relations Between the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Bangkok
On this occasion, the Labour Minister confirmed his attendance at the 70th anniversary celebration of the establishment of JCC Bangkok, reflecting the close relationship between the Japanese and Thai private sectors.
