On February 2, 2022, Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Boonchob Suttamanaswong, assigned the Ministry of Labour’s Inspector-General Mrs. Darunee Nithithaweekul, to visit the area to inspect the readiness of the jobseekers’ assessment facilities for overseas work at the KTC Skills Assessment Center, Lam Luk Ka District, Pathum Thani Province. President of the Thai Overseas Manpower Association, Ms. Aranya Sakulkosol, and staff from the Department of Skill Development, the International Cooperation Bureau, and the Office of the Permanent Secretary of Labour joined the occasion. Mrs. Darunee said that the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense General Prayuth Chan-ocha instructed the Ministry of Labour to recruit potential Thai workers in Saudi Arabia. In this regard, the Labour Minister, Mr. Suchart Chomklin, immediately responded and accelerated the implementation of the said policy. Today, the Permanent Secretary of Labour has assigned her to join the delegation of the Thai Overseas Manpower Association’s President and relevant officials to visit the area and inspect the jobseekers’ assessment facility for overseas work at the KTC Skills Assessment Center in Pathum Thani province.
Mrs. Darunee continued that from inspecting the KTC Skills Assessment Center, the center was ready and suited in terms of tools, materials, equipment, safety, and the qualifications of the assessors who have been certified by the Department of Skill Development to assess job seekers in 4 branches comprising 24 positions. They include welders and metal sheets, electrical and electronic technicians, automotive mechanics, and construction technicians, in line with Saudi Arabia’s needs. Saudi Arabia is opening up their country following their vision and 2030 policy, where there is a need for foreign workers in every field, for up to around 8 million people. This includes workers in industrial and large-scale construction projects, technician work, and service sector work. Thai workers include skilled and semi-skilled workers, with expertise as technicians engineers, especially in the service sector, hotels, health care, massage spas, and chefs.
At present, 1,345 Thai workers are working in Saudi Arabia. Most Thai workers who traveled to work were self-reported, had arrangements by employers, and re-entries. The jobs that Thai workers traveled to work in included welders, technicians, mechanics, factory workers, machine operators, workers producing general products, machine control workers, assistant cooks, and maids. After this visit, there will be a close discussion on the job position and skills required, including various steps to assess skills in each branch. The efforts are under the principle of sponsorship by the state, supplied by the private sector, with the cooperation of both parties. This facility will be used to assess workers’ skills to meet the needs of the labour market to prepare workers before sending them to work in Saudi Arabia.
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Division of Public Relations
2 February 2022
