On March 27, 2022, at 07.30 hours local time, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin, Assistant to the Labour Minister Mr. Surachai Chaitrakulthong, Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Boonchob Suttamanaswong, the Ministry of Labour’s Spokesperson (on politics), Mrs. Theanrat Nawamawat, the Minister’s Advisor Sergeant Ekayossing Liamlert, the Department of Employment’s Director-General, Mr. Pairoj Chotikasathian, arrived in Saudi Arabia. Mr. Abdulmayid Al Rachudi, Deputy Minister of Labour Affairs, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, and Mr. Sathon Kasemsan Na Ayudhya, Charge d’affaires to Riyadh, gave the delegation a warm welcome on their arrival to Riyadh. Mr. Suchart said that today, he brought the Ministry of Labour’s executives to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to prepare to attend the labour agreement’s signing ceremony on March 28, 2022, at 12:30 hours local time.
Mr. Suchart and the delegation met and encouraged the Thai Labour Office staff in Riyadh and discussed official matters with Mr. Sathon Kasemsan Na Ayudhya, Charge d’affaires to Riyadh. He thanked the charge d’affaires for taking care of the ambassadors, counselors, and staff of the Labour Department and providing advice and support to the operations of the Labour Department, which is an agency under the Ministry of Labour that is stationed in Riyad. They have also helped look after Thai workers in Saudi Arabia to have a proper life. In addition, he thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for supporting the signing of this labour agreement. The effort aims to employ Thai workers following international labour obligations between the two countries. He asked for cooperation from the Saudi Arabian authorities to help monitor the fight against human trafficking, protect employers’ and workers’ rights, and enforce regulations for a fair employment contract, ensuring workers receive wages, benefits, and statutory entitlements.
At present, 1,334 Thai workers are working in Saudi Arabia. Most Thai workers have traveled through self-notification, through employers taking them to work, and through re-entries. The jobs that Thai workers travel to work in include welders, technicians, mechanics, factory workers, machine operators, workers producing general products, machine operators, assistant cooks, and housekeepers.
Mr. Suchart added that on the same day, he also met with a representative of a construction company to observe the employment conditions of Saudi Arabian construction companies at the construction site of AL BAWANI -CP02. He met with construction operators on the need for workers in the Saudi Arabian construction industry, the overall economic condition, and the future growth prospects of the construction business. They also discussed investment plans in other planned construction projects and measures to ensure the quality of life and welfare of foreign workers coming to work in Saudi Arabia. There will be an E-Contract Program, an electronic contract, focusing on protecting the rights of employees and reducing conflicts between employees and employers.
There is also the Labour Mobility initiative allowing workers to move freely to increase flexibility, efficiency, and the ability to be active in the labour market. It also aims to align with labour demands, especially for workers in services, hotels, health, and construction industries, in large-scale construction projects in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, it aims to publicize the strengths of Thai workers’ skills, especially skilled and semi-skilled workers, with their diligence and patience, which is unique to Thai workers. It will also facilitate the exchange of information on readiness for skill assessments and various training processes for Thai workers to prepare before coming to work in Saudi Arabia.
+++++++++++++++++
Division of Public Relations
28 March 2022
