On April 8, 2022, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin assigned the Mrs. Thiwalrat Angkinan, Mr. Pairoj Chotiksetian, and Mr. Prateep Songlamyong, to join discussions with Pol. Lt. General Somkiat Pholprayoon, Secretary-General of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center (SBPAC), along with labour leaders in the southern border provinces. The discussions were on preparations for dispatching workers to work in Saudi Arabia. The meeting took place at the Southern Border Provinces Administration Center, Sateng Subdistrict, Mueang District, Yala Province.
Mrs. Thiwalrat Angkinan said that the Labour Minister, Mr. Suchart Chomklin signed cooperation agreements with the Saudi Arabian Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Mr. Ahmad bin Sulaiman Al-Rayihi, on recruiting general and domestic workers. The agreement was signed between the Thai Ministry of Labour and the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development on March 28. Saudi Arabia demands skilled workers, including craftsmen in the construction industry, nurses, medical personnel, and those with English and Arabic language skills. The Ministry of Labour has worked with the SBPAC to discuss the preparation of workers in the southern border provinces to be dispatched to work in Saudi Arabia.
Mr. Pairoj Chotikasathian said those job seekers who wish to travel to work abroad must register with the Overseas Employment Office. Job seekers must provide key information such as the country they wish to work in, desired positions, knowledge, skills, work experience, and foreign language proficiency. They can register at the Smart Job Center, the Overseas Employment Administration Division, Bangkok Employment Office Areas 1-10, or the Provincial Employment Office in every province. Alternatively, they can register via the e-Service system on the website http://toea.doe.go.th or the Ministry of Labour’s 1506 hotline, press 2 for the Department of Employment.
Mr. Prateep Songlamyong said that the discussions with the SBPAC and labour leaders today allowed them to get information on workers in the southern border provinces about what skills they have and whether they are in line with Saudi Arabia’s needs. If the skill level does not meet the requirements, there will be up-skilling or re-skilling to meet the needs of businesses. The Department of Skill Development has prepared training courses, tools, machines, and equipment, especially English or Arabic courses. Training includes Thai massage, spa massage, culinary, building, electricians, and welders. Training focuses on safety at work, materials and equipment, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. The efforts also include labour skill standards assessments before going to work abroad, to get paid and compensated at standard and fair rates. Emphasis is placed on integrating information on job position requirements with the Department of Employment to carry out training to meet the needs of employers in foreign countries. Those interested in training or assessing labour skill standards can ask for information at the Ministry of Labour’s 1506 hotline, press 4, for the Skill Development Offices nationwide.
Pol. Lt. General Somkiat Pholprayoon, Secretary-General of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center (SBPAC), said that they surveyed target groups in the southern border provinces interested in working in Saudi Arabia. It was found that 899 Thai workers have lived or worked in Saudi Arabia and have returned to their hometowns in the southern border provinces due to the COVID-19 situation. Seventy students graduated from Middle Eastern countries, and 1,375 graduates of Arabic languages in Thailand. 12,605 Thai workers in the southern border provinces returned from Malaysia due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 65 students who received vocational training from the Royal Vocational Training Center in the southern border provinces, and 37 people in the general public who wish to work in Saudi Arabia.
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Division of Public Relations
8 April 2022
