On October 31, 2024, at 09.00 hours in the local time of the Republic of Singapore, the Labour Minister, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, together with the Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Boonsong Thapchaiyut, the Assistant to the Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Sakdinart Sonthisakyotin, the Minister Counselor (on Labour) from the Labour Office in Singapore, Mr. Wuttisak Pathomsart, attended the 13th ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Meeting (ALMM + 3) at the Garden Pavilion, Republic of Singapore.
Mr. Phiphat said that the ASEAN Plus Three (China, Japan, Korea) Labour Ministers’ Meeting aims to develop technical and academic advancements, as well as link cooperation in forums through projects of international agencies in Thailand. He highlighted the issue of technological advancements as a challenge for all Thai workers who must adapt and transition to an aging society. Therefore, to prepare Thai workers, it has a policy of working at all ages and a focus on upskilling, reskilling, and new skills to promote innovation among workers, which aims to cover at least 5 million people in 2025. It is also focused on preparing the new generation of workers by creating curricula and guidance from secondary school, vocational education to university, preparing students to enter the future labor market, and developing workers in semiconductors, A.I., robotic systems, automatic machinery, and electric cars. It also strives to accommodate over 36 million tourists per year, focusing on developing skills in languages, food, Thai massage and spa, and Muay Thai to international standards and expanding the smart agriculture industry, which is a core industrial sector of Thailand, to increase productivity to create more opportunities to enter the labour market, generate income for households, and increase the ability to adapt to remain in the workforce.
Mr. Phiphat continued that at the meeting, the ASEAN Plus Three countries agreed that reskilling and upskilling will be necessary and must be developed to provide workers with opportunities to work in the future job market with quality, both in life and in a good working environment. At this event, Mr. Phiphat also confirmed Thailand’s readiness to host the next ASEAN Plus Three Labour Ministers’ Meeting, confirming his readiness to chair and host the next ASEAN Plus Three Labour Ministers’ Meeting in 2026. He said that he sincerely hopes to welcome ASEAN Plus Three member countries to discuss constructive labour cooperation again.
