On September 7, 2022, the Labour Minister, Mr. Suchart Chomklin, reported that the Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwam, who supervises the Ministry of Labour, emphasize the equality in workers’ basic rights in Thailand, whereby Thai and foreign workers must be treated equally. The workforce is a key engine driving the country’s economic and social development. The effective management of foreign workers is in line with the labour demands of organizations and the direction of national economic development. The Ministry of Labour’s Department of Employment has established the initial recruitment and employment centers for migrant workers from Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia in three locations, including Tak, Sa Kaeo, and Nong Khai Provinces. The effort follows the Cabinet’s resolution on July 26, 2016, to serve as a training center for migrant workers working and living in Thailand, as well as a place for screening workers before coming to work in the country, and a resting point for migrant workers to return to the country, in hopes to prevent human trafficking.
The Assistant to the Permanent Secretary of Labour, Acting Sub Lt. Somsak Phromdam led the team to visit the site of the Nong Khai starting and ending employment center, following the public relations project to create awareness and understanding of policies for management, import, prevention, and protection of migrant workers’ rights. It aims to educate and provide an understanding to migrant workers who come to work in Thailand. The Nong Khai starting and ending employment center is located at 156/1 Village Moo 5, Mechai Subdistrict, Mueang Nong Khai District, Nong Khai Province. It is used as a place for training to educate service users about work, especially employment contracts and living in Thailand for migrant workers. It examines and screens migrant workers to ensure that employers are legitimate, according to the employment contract set out, and that the migrant workers are prepared before allowing them to travel to work in Thailand. The center records foreign workers’ information. It is a waiting center for foreign workers who come to Thailand for cases where the employer comes to pick up the workers to work and return to their country when the employment has ended. It is also a place for issuing E-Work Permits that can check and claim the rights that workers should receive before returning to the country. It also serves as a coordination center to assist employers and foreign workers in implementing employment contracts. This will help prevent and solve human trafficking and protect foreign workers following international standards. Workers who attend training at this center will know their rights, wages, employment contracts, welfare, and how to behave when in Thailand, including the procedure for obtaining assistance when any problems arise. Each training will take approximately 3-6 hours and is free.
The Office of the Permanent Secretary of Labour by the Public Relations Division also participated in the roadshow event at the first Nong Khai starting and ending employment center. The efforts follow the public relations project to create awareness and understanding of policies for management, import, prevention, and protection of the rights of migrant workers, to educate migrant workers who come to work in Thailand. It allows the workers to support and promote legal workers’ use and prevent labour trafficking problems. Foreign workers who work in Thailand legally will be protected in terms of appropriate benefits and welfare, according to human rights principles, on equal footing with Thai workers in all respects.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Division of Public Relations
7 September 2022
