On November 8, 2021, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin reported that the Prime Minister is concerned about the labour shortages and the influx of migrant workers along the border. Therefore, the Ministry of Labour has been assigned to discuss with relevant agencies. Today, he had assigned Permanent Secretary of Labour Mr. Boonchob Suttamanaswong, to attend a meeting to listen to the opinions and suggestions from representatives of private sector companies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), foundations, and employer associations that employ foreign workers to create awareness and understanding on the guidelines for the management of foreign workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The occasion took place in the meeting room on the 5th floor of the Ministry of Labour. He said that the government under the leadership of Prime Minister and Minister of Defense General Prayuth Chan-ocha, and the Ministry of Labour under the supervision of Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan gives importance to the issue of foreign workers illegally entering the country along the border, following the economic recovery to support the country’s opening. He instructed relevant agencies to work together with security officials, including the military, the police, and the administrative departments, to increase strictness, to monitor and block the trafficking of foreign workers smuggled into Thailand along the border illegally. He reiterated for the Ministry of Labour to accelerate discussions on solutions to the labour shortage issue in the industrial sector, to legally import workers to support the demands of the Thai manufacturing and service sectors that continue to expand from the success of the government’s progress in opening the country.
Mr. Suchart also emphasized the guidelines for managing foreign workers following the Cabinet’s resolution on September 28, 2021. At that time, the Ministry of Interior issued a notification regarding permission of certain categories of foreigners to stay in the Kingdom on a case-by-case basis amid the COVID-19 crisis. The announcement was made on November 5, 2021, effective from November 1, 2021, onwards. It allows migrant workers who are illegally in Thailand to register properly to resolve the labour shortage. As for bringing in additional workers according to the MOU, the Ministry of Labour’s Department of Employment will host a meeting with relevant agencies on November 11, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Public Health, and the Royal Thai Police, for example, to discuss ways to legally import labour. From there, a proposal will be presented to the CCSA and the Cabinet for approval to resolve the labour shortage issue according to the needs of entrepreneurs.
The Ministry of Labour has not been complacent about the labour shortage and has continued to take a proactive approach, especially giving Thai people the right to work first. If there are not enough workers, foreign workers will be brought in, following the steps of the Cabinet’s resolutions and the measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic as prescribed by the CCSA. The Labour Minister has already made preparations. As for the influx of illegal foreign workers along the border, the Ministry of Labour has worked on a solution with the Ministry of Interior and Security to be strict in expanding the arrest of the illegal movement of migrant workers fleeing into the city.
“The government and the Ministry of Labour understand the labour needs of businesses well, especially to solve the problem of labour shortage in the manufacturing and construction sectors to support the policy of the country’s opening. The Ministry of Labour has been proactive and has prepared procedures for the relevant departments to assist employers, entrepreneurs, and workers, to follow the correct procedures together, to further drive the country’s economic development,” concluded Mr. Suchart.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Labour Protection Network (LPN), Mr. Sompong Sakaeo, said that relevant agencies must help publicize and create awareness among entrepreneurs about the legal use of labour. Migrant workers coming to work legally will be given access to protection from the government, both in terms of benefits and social security and welfare. As for solving the problem of border spills, the vigorous work of the border security agencies will help prevent illegal activities.
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Division of Public Relations
