Thailand extends contracts of over 200,000 migrant workers (Photo: bangkokpost.com)Bangkok (VNA) - The ThaiCabinet's recent decision to extend employment contracts for over200,000 migrant workers has eased concerns about a domestic labourshortage.
Poj Aramwattananont, Vice Chairman of the ThaiChamber of Commerce and President of the Labour and Skill DevelopmentCommittee, said based on discussions held with the chamber and theFederation of Thai Industries (FTI), the cabinet approved an MoU on foreignworkers from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar; and an agreement on foreign workersfrom Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.
The approval was based on a cabinet resolution from July 5,2022 and another dated February 7, 2023.
According to government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri, themove is intended to reinforce economic security. The extension appliesto migrant workers who arrived under labour- related MoUs signed by governments.However, Anucha said that the cabinet changed its mind and approved theextension as the lingering uncertainty over the government's formationthreatens to leave a huge labour vacuum.
The cabinet previously rejected the ministry'srequest for an extension, fearing it would create a burden of responsibility on the new government.
According to Deputy Prime Minister WissanuKrea-ngam, without the extension, the migrant workers would have had to returnhome and wait until a new government took power before they could come back toresume their employment in Thailand.
Meanwhile, Poj acknowledged that Thailand isfacing structural problems, with severe shortages in both the quantity andquality of labour, especially in tourism, service, construction and realestate, food processing and small business. These sectors have a high demandfor a large number of workers to support the country's economic growth postpandemic./.
