February 26, 2025 – Hong Kong
Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labour, Mr. Boonsong Thapchaiyut, the Permanent Secretary of Labour, the Consul-General in Hong Kong, the Director-General of the Department of Employment, the Director-General of the Department of Skill Development, the Director-General of the Department of Labor Protection and Welfare, the Secretary-General of the Social Security Office and executives of the Ministry of Labour has discussions with the Employers’ Federation of Hong Kong (EFHK) to strengthen cooperation in the field of labour, aiming to expand opportunities for Thai workers to work in Hong Kong and adjust to future workforce demands.
Mr. Phiphat said that EFHK was established in 1947 and has over 450 member organizations covering a variety of industries. He said that Hong Kong is facing a continuous shortage of workers, especially in the technical, service, retail, and tourism sectors, which are key opportunities for Thai workers.
Mr. Phiphat continued that the Ministry of Labour reiterates its goal of sending Thai workers to work abroad. The latest data shows that Hong Kong was short of over 51,000 workers in 2024 in key industries, such as 10,000 technicians, 24,000 workers in the service industries, and 15,000 managers/supervisors/experts.
Mr. Boonsong Thapchaiyut, the Permanent Secretary of Labour, added that the Thai Ministry of Labour could fulfill the labour demand in Hong Kong and will accelerate the preparation of skills and languages to meet the requirements of Hong Kong employers, emphasizing skills development (upskill and reskill) and language training, especially English and Chinese. The Department of Skill Development will work on this part to boost the capabilities of Thai workers so that they are ready for the international workforce. Thailand has also demonstrated its potential in skilled workers, with Thai workers recently winning nine awards from the WorldSkills 2024 competition, reflecting the quality of Thai workers at the international level.
Mr. Wilson Kong, Hong Kong Employers’ Confederation, commended the potential of Thai workers and has set up a working team. He said that Hong Kong will be in a shortage of over 180,000 workers by 2028 in key industries such as construction, F&B, retail, and technology. Hong Kong employers place importance on workers’ language skills, culture, and work attitudes. They will prepare to discuss details and prepare Thai workers to enter the Hong Kong market.
“We are confident that this cooperation will be an important step in expanding the Thai workforce, creating opportunities for Thai workers to have stable jobs, while supporting the economies of both countries to grow together,” the Minister of Labour concluded.
