“พิพัฒน์” รมว.แรงงาน พร้อมส่ง 100,000 คน เข้าอุตฯรถยนต์ไฟฟ้า ดันพัฒนาแรงงานวัยเรียน ส่งเสริมอาชีวะ ลดการขาดแรงงานในอนาคต/Labour Minister Prepares to Send 100,000 People into the EV Industry and Promote School-Ages and Vocational Students to Reduce Future Labour Shortages

On March 22, 2024, the Labour Minister, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, attended a forum organized by the Labour Commission House of Representatives on raising the level of work of Thai people in the electric vehicle industry. The occasion took place at the seminar room B1-3, floor B1, Parliament Building.

 

Mr. Phiphat said that the Ministry of Labour gives importance to the development of skilled labour to support economic growth, which is in line with the national strategy according to government policy, including investment promotion measures. It also supports investment policy in Thailand in driving Thailand to be the center of electric vehicle production in the region, both in the production and assembly of automobiles, batteries for electric vehicles, electric vehicle charging stations and equipment, and spare parts for electric vehicles. In 2025, the Ministry of Labour’s Department of Skill Development has a goal to develop 10,097,015 skilled workers, to develop 100,000 people to support investment in an innovative workforce and accelerate armed development and labour quality from school age to reduce the short-term labour shortage, with the target of 1,000,000 people.

 

The Labour Minister spoke about factors affecting the challenges of Thailand’s electric vehicle industry, including the number of skilled workers with the knowledge and understanding of the electric vehicle industry, in which demand is less than the industry’s supply. In addition, there is a limited government budget to promote the development of skilled labour to align with the electric vehicle industry, and the number of skilled workers is still insufficient to meet the industry’s demands. Furthermore, Thailand’s main competitors have investment promotion and skill development measures. Vietnam, which promotes the production of Vietnamese electric vehicles under the name “VIN FAST,” accelerated the development of skilled workers to meet the needs of the electric vehicle industry, including technicians, automotive engineers, electrical engineers, and software developers to support investment in the electric vehicle industry.

 

“Guidelines for the sustainable development of Thailand’s electric vehicle industry must rely on Thailand’s development from a contract manufacturing country to a manufacturing country, which will result in sustainable employment. This also includes the acceleration of skilled worker development for the electric vehicle industry at the operator level, such as technicians, automotive engineers, electrical engineers, and software developers, as well as the creation of investment promotion policies from world-leading electric vehicle manufacturers in Thailand. There must be an agreement to transfer knowledge and technology in research and development, as well as production and assembly of vehicles and batteries for electric vehicles, charging station equipment, and spare parts to create opportunities for the development of Thai electric vehicles. This will promote the widespread use of electric vehicles, especially in the public vehicle segment and vehicles in government organizations. There must be a comprehensive study on the reuse of batteries for electric vehicles for other businesses, including recycling parts and destruction of electronic waste to reduce environmental impacts,” Mr. Phiphat said.

 

“The Ministry of Labour will work with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation and the Ministry of Education, especially the Vocational Education Office, to develop training courses related to the electric vehicle industry that meet international standards. Efforts will aim to support and equip students who study in the engineering and information technology departments to train in skills that are in demand in the electric vehicle industry and push the credit bank project to stimulate students who are interested in developing skills. It will strive to enhance work experience from school age,  which will reduce labour shortages in the long term. In addition, it will develop a career guidance system that meets the needs of the industry in the future and investment in Thailand over the next ten years among teachers at the primary and lower secondary levels so that they can transmit knowledge to students who choose to study further. The efforts are in line with the skilled labour development plan to support the growth of the industry and plans to promote investment in Thailand,” Mr. Phiphat said.