On September 17, 2024, at 13.30 hours, the Labour Minister, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, welcomed the Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to Thailand, Mrs. Millicent Cruz-Paredes, and the delegation on the occasion of a meeting. The Ministry of Labour’s Inspector-General, Mr. Samat Pattamasukon, and executives from the Social Security Office, the Department of Employment, the Department of Skill Development, the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare, and the International Cooperation Bureau gave a welcome at the Chatumongkol Room, 6th floor, Ministry of Labour.
Mr. Phiphat said that Thailand and the Philippines have had a long-standing good relationship. This year marks the 75th anniversary. Currently, there are approximately 40,000 Filipino workers in Thailand, most of whom are in the education, academic, and entertainment sectors. He commended the Philippine skills development efforts for their success in sending Thai workers to work abroad, especially in the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and America. As a result, he is interested in having the Department of Skill Development study methods to develop the workforce’s skills so that they can work abroad and meet the needs of the global labor market.
Mr. Phiphat continued about Filipino workers in Thailand, whereby the Philippines has proposed an MOA that includes the protection of Filipino workers’ rights. He proposed that an MOU be created jointly, with content on academic cooperation exchanges, such as labour skill development, labour management systems, education, training, research, and the exchange of information on health, safety, and occupational health, for the Philippines to consider.
The Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to Thailand, Mrs. Millicent Cruz-Paredes, and the delegation thanked the Labour Minister and his team for providing the opportunity to meet and discuss today. Regarding the MOU on labour rights proposed by the Thai Ministry of Labour, the Embassy is pleased to consider it in order to build good relations and benefit both sides in terms of labour. The Embassy is also ready to work closely with the Thai Ministry of Labour and provide information on skills development in the Philippines that meets the needs of the global labour market, as well as examples of the establishment of agencies to look after overseas workers. She said that she sincerely hopes the Philippines will have an office to look after Filipino workers in Thailand in the future and that both parties continue to cooperate.
