Thailand's Labour Minister, Jullapun Amornvivat, has asked South Korea to expand legal job opportunities for Thai workers and help resolve problems surrounding the E-8 seasonal work visa. Jullapun met South Korean Employment and Labour Minister Kim Young-hoon on 27 August 2026, alongside Labour Ministry permanent secretary Pol Lt Gen Wannapong Khosrakhon and senior ministry officials. Kim was in Thailand for the 29th ASEAN Labour Ministers' Meeting under the ASEAN Plus Three framework, where South Korea attended as an East Asian dialogue partner. Push for more legal employment routes Jullapun said Thailand placed great importance on sending workers to South Korea through legal channels, including Seoul's Employment Permit System (EPS). The talks focused on seeking South Korean support to increase employment opportunities for Thai nationals in agriculture and other occupations where there is demand in the Korean labour market. The two ministers also agreed to promote exchange programmes and cultural activities intended to improve understanding between Korean employers and Thai employees. Thailand plans to develop workers' Korean-language, vocational and digital-AI skills through the DSD Online Training platform, which offers more than 300 courses. The stated aim is to prepare Thai workers for future labour-market needs. E-8 seasonal visa issue A key issue was the dispatch of seasonal agriculture and fisheries workers under South Korea's E-8 visa. Thai workers from some provinces had previously been suspended from being sent under the scheme after workers absconded from their employers. Jullapun said Thai authorities had introduced tighter safeguards before departure. These include providing information to workers, issuing certificates of good conduct, training workers on their roles and employment conditions, and establishing systems for monitoring and reporting in. The measures are intended to allow faster coordination of assistance when needed and give employers greater confidence in workers recruited from Thailand. South Korea has shown a positive response, according to the Thai Labour Ministry. It has begun referring to the group as workers who are registered or using the wrong type of visa, rather than using the term illegal foreign workers. Kim said he would act as an intermediary and raise the matter with South Korea's justice minister to seek a practical solution. Picture courtesy of Khomchadluek Join the discussion? 28 August 2026
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