From April 22-23, 2013, Mrs. Chantana Boon-Arj, Minister Counsellor (Labour Affairs) and Mrs. Malee Wada, oversea employment coordinator of Office of Labour Affairs in Japan, visited 37 Thai trainees under IM Japan programme at 8 recipient companies in Hamamatsu city of Shizuoka prefecture. The visit aimed at boosting confidence of Japanese employers and morale of Thai trainees and at exploring new labour markets (recipient companies) in the prefecture. On April 22, 2013 1.1) Shinba Tekkosho Co.,Ltd. runs auto parts manufacturing business. It produces auto parts and motorcycle exhaust pipe and has a factory in Thailand’s Amata Nakorn Industrial Estate. It receives five Thai trainees. 1.2) Yamamoto Foundry Co.,Ltd. runs steel vulcanizing and auto parts manufacturing business. It has branches in Thailand’s Ayutthaya and Sing Buri provinces. It has five trainees. 1.3) Akabori Giken Co.,Ltd. is specialized in composing large printing machine and manufacturing mag wheels. The job requires skills and delicacy. It has six Thai trainees. The employer is highly satisfied with the trainees, saying that they are highly skilled and capable. During the Thai officials’ visit, they were taken to witness the training in the factory by its manager. Two Thai trainees could save enough money to pay tuition fee for their family member, who almost completes their university degree. 1.4) Komatsu Kogyo Co.,Ltd. runs auto parts manufacturing business specialized in car and motorcycle parts. Its products are exported to more than 80 countries worldwide. It has three Thai trainees. On April 23, 2013 2.1) Maruhisa Kogyo Limitted runs auto part vulcanizing business. It has 8 Thai trainees working in its two factories, located near each other. The employer says the trainee are hardworking and not a trouble-maker. One of the trainees has passed level two of the Japanese language test. 2.2) Seiyu Co.,Ltd. runs auto parts welding business. It has five Thai trainees. The employer provides good care of the trainee and praises them for hard-working. He says although Japanese economy is recovering due to weakening yen, only large-scale businesses benefit from it while small- and medium-scale business still suffer. 2.3) Somic Ishikawa Co.,Ltd. is a large auto parts manufacturing company specialized in car seat parts and bearing. It has three Thai trainees. The company invests worldwide so it receives trainees from many countries. The company’s executives are satisfied with Thai trainees and considering accepting more Thai trainees. 2.4) Miyaki Co.,Ltd. runs metal plating business, which requires highly advanced production technique. It has two Thai trainees. It is constructing a factory in Thailand’s Amata Nakorn Industrial Estate and intends to send Thai trainees, who complete their course, to work in the factory. The company’s executives visited to Thailand to inspect labour condition under the Thai-Japanese labour cooperation program of Office of Labour Affairs in Japan last year. During the Thai officials’ visit, they were taken to witness the training of Thai trainees in the factory by the company’s president, who says the trainees could quickly adjust to the work, although they have trained only for one month. The Thai officials told all Thai trainees to use their free time usefully, practice their Japanese skill and try to pass the Japanese language test at the highest score. They were informed that the Thai trainees in this prefecture spend their free time doing exercise and playing soccer together, which is good for their health and socializing. The officials said they will visit the trainees again to boost their morale. They also gave the trainees contact phone number as well as books and snacks.
