The Labour Minister, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, joined a meeting with the Minister of Employment from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland, H.E. Arto Satonen, and a delegation through video conference. The meeting discussed sending Thai workers who are wildberry pickers to Finland regarding the issue of visa granting. The Assistant to the Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Sakdinart Sonthisakyotin, and officials from relevant agencies joined the discussion at the Labour Ministers Meeting Room, 6th floor, Ministry of Labour.
Mr. Phiphat thanked the Minister of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland for the discussion with the Ministry of Labour today. He was pleased and honoured to have the opportunity to discuss sending Thai workers to work in berry picking in Finland. At present, employers have completed employment contracts for 900 people, and the Finnish government has checked to ensure that the contracts are in accordance with the relevant laws. If the Finnish government needs more Thai workers, he asked them to please inform the Ministry of Labour. He said that the Ministry of Labour thanked them for trusting Thai people to work in Finland and that he is scheduled to visit and meet with the Thai berry pickers in Finland around September.
Mr. Phiphat reiterated the Ministry of Labour’s unwavering readiness to dispatch Thai berry pickers to work in Finland at the earliest possible time, provided it aligns with the conditions discussed and agreed upon with the Finnish Minister of Economic Affairs and Employment and his team today. He requested the Finnish government to send the necessary documents to the Royal Thai Embassy in Helsinki. Once these documents are verified, the Ministry of Labour is fully prepared to send workers in time for Finland’s berry harvest season.
“Today’s discussion is a good opportunity for both countries to reach an agreement to ensure that the sending of wild berry pickers to Finland guarantees the workers’ safety, security, welfare, and benefits that all workers should receive, which will encourage more workers of this type to travel to work in the future,” said Mr. Phiphat.
The Minister of Employment from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland, H.E. Arto Satonen, thanked the Labour Minister and his team for giving both parties the opportunity to have a discussion. He said that he sincerely hoped that as a result of today’s discussion, Thai workers would be sent to pick berries in Finland as soon as possible. At present, there is a high demand for workers. The Finnish government has adjusted the conditions because, in the past, workers came in on tourist visas. However, in 2024, the Finnish government will strictly check the employment contract before issuing a residence visa and work permit. Therefore, workers must have an employment contract, work hours of 8 hours, and receive wages as specified by the Finnish government. At the same time, the Finnish Immigration Bureau has been working closely to protect workers.
