On March 15, 2022, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin assigned Assistant to the Labour Minister Mr. Surachai Chaitrakulthong gave a speech to welcome Dr. Adnan Abdullah M. Alnuim, Deputy Minister for International Affairs of Saudi Arabia and committee at the symposium on labour recruitment between the Thai Ministry of Labour and the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development via teleconference as well. The occasion took place at the Amari Watergate Hotel Bangkok. Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Boonchob Suttamanaswong, the Department of Employment’s Director-General, Mr. Pairoj Chotiksetian, the Department of Skills Development’s Director-General, Mr. Prateep Songlamyong, Assistant to the Permanent Secretary of Labour Mr. Samat Pattamasukon, the Ministry of Labour’s executives and relevant agencies also joined the occasion. Mr. Surachai said that today’s meeting resulted from discussions between Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin and Ahman Sulaiman ALRajhi, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development from Saudi Arabia, during the official visit of His Excellency General Prayut Chan-ocha, Prime Minister of Thailand in January. The Ministry of Labour is pleased to hear that Saudi Arabia is interested in restoring labour relations with Thailand and ready to open the country to accept Thai workers to work in Saudi Arabia. They have proposed to draw up two agreements on labour recruitment. The Cabinet has now approved the draft agreement. It is in discussion to determine the date the Labour Minister travels to sign on the occasion that Saudi Arabia sees appropriate.
Mr. Surachai continued that the Ministry of Labour is delighted to welcome and meet with Dr. Adnan and the Saudi Arabian Academic Delegation to exchange knowledge, comments, and suggestions on the laws, regulations, and practices of the two countries in the provision and protection of labour following international principles and obligations between countries that are parties. There were four topics today, including labour market data, health personnel, the labour delivery process, and an agreement on the delivery and receipt of labour. The Ministry of Labour invited experts on each topic to exchange and learn with the Saudi Arabian side. In addition to representatives of agencies under the Ministry of Labour who participated in this meeting, representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and representatives from the Ministry of Public Health joined via teleconferencing.
“Today’s meeting will form a good vision to strengthen international relations and labour cooperation. This is another important step forward for both countries to deliver workers to work more efficiently and fairly, resulting in workers’ income and legal protection. It will also contribute to increasing the country’s competitiveness. Both parties agreed to drive a framework for labour cooperation to deliver efficiency and achieve results as soon as possible,” concluded Mr. Surachai.
After completing the academic conference, the Assistant to the Labour Minister also chaired a dinner reception for Dr. Adnan Abdullah M. Alnuim and the Saudi Arabian Academic Delegation.
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Division of Public Relations
15 March 2022
