On March 22, 2022, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin assigned Assistant to the Labour Minister Mr. Surachai Chaitrakulthong to welcome H.E. Dr. Sarah Taylor, Ambassador Extraordinary, and Plenipotentiary of Canada, to Thailand and committee, on a courtesy call and to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on employment, including foreign workers in Thailand, especially Myanmar workers. The parties discussed the skill development plan for Thai workers under the Thailand 4.0 strategy, information on Thai workers in Canada, and Canadian workers working in Thailand. Advisor to the Labour Minister Air Chief Marshal Fuengsak Ruangkol and Dr. Thongyu Kongkhan, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Labour, Ms. Bubpha Rueangsud, and the Ministry of Labour’s executives also joined the welcoming, which took place at the Chatumongkol Room, 6th floor, Ministry of Labour.
Mr. Surachai said that the Ministry of Labour is pleased that Thailand and Canada have maintained a good relationship for 60 years. The Thai government and the Ministry of Labour are ready to cooperate and fully support the Ambassador’s work to strengthen labour relations between Thailand and Canada for both countries’ economic and social development. They have also worked together to overcome the COVID-19 crisis together. The COVID-19 situation impacted employment in Thailand. Therefore, it is another challenge that the Ministry of Labour must manage, especially as the virus spreads to many foreign workers. Therefore, the government has measures to screen for COVID-19 among workers working in high-risk areas and has amended regulations, policies, and measures to keep up with the situation. Efforts also include the Cabinet’s resolutions to alleviate the shortage of foreign workers and assist migrant workers, especially migrant workers of the three countries (Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar) working in the country but unable to proceed to stay in the Kingdom to continue working, or providing waivers for migrant workers with illegal statuses to stay in the Kingdom temporarily to continue working legally, along with controls to prevent the pandemic.
Mr. Surachai added that for the skill development plan for Thai workers, including women workers under the Thailand 4.0 Strategy, the Ministry of Labour’s Department of Skill Development had prepared a government action plan related to skill development for Thai workers, including women workers. It includes the development of new labour competencies following the needs of the labour market, promoting the development of labour skills in economic development zones, upgrading labour skills to Labour 4.0, developing people’s potentials, providing training programs for targeted workers to increase career opportunities and women’s skill development activities to raise their quality of lives. In addition, there is cooperation with the International Labour Organization (ILO) to develop skills for women workers.
“The Ministry of Labour would like to thank the Ambassador and the delegation for their interest, discussion, and cooperation with the Ministry of Labour and today’s courtesy call. This is considered great international labour relations,” Mr. Surachai concluded.
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Division of Public Relations
22 March 2022
