April 7, 2026, at 11.00 hours (local time in the French Republic) – Pol. Lt. Col. Wannapong Kotcharak, Permanent Secretary of Labour, and delegation held official discussions with Mr. Nikorndej Plangoon, Ambassador of Thailand in Paris, on labour cooperation and Thailand’s accession to the OECD, one of the Government’s key policy priorities. The meeting took place at the Royal Thai Embassy in Paris, France.
On this occasion, the Permanent Secretary of Labour congratulated Mr. Nikorndej on his appointment as Ambassador in Paris and exchanged updates on OECD accession progress, involving key Thai agencies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council, and the Council of State, as well as more than 25 subcommittees.
Both parties discussed outcomes from the meeting earlier that morning with the OECD Employment, Labour and Social Affairs Committee (ELSAC), with a view to applying policy recommendations to further develop Thailand’s labour market in line with international standards.
Regarding labour cooperation in France, the Embassy noted continued demand for Thai workers, particularly chefs specialising in Thai cuisine and massage therapists, especially in therapeutic massage. The Permanent Secretary emphasised the Government-to-Government (G-to-G) labour deployment approach to enhance standards, reduce costs, and prevent exploitation of Thai workers.
In addition, both parties exchanged views on the current slowdown in France’s political situation and the prospect of appointing Thailand’s permanent representative to the OECD. It was agreed that such a role should be filled by a legal expert to effectively support Thailand’s engagement on the international stage.
Overall, the discussions reflected the Ministry of Labour’s proactive role in aligning Thailand’s labour policies with the global arena, while concretely expanding employment opportunities for Thai workers in the European market.
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Division of Public Relations
