File Photo

 

In response to ongoing labour shortages, particularly along the Thai-Cambodian border, Thailand is widening its recruitment of foreign workers. Labour Minister Pongkawin Jungrungruangkit announced yesterday that the Ministry of Labour would expand its foreign workforce to include eight nationalities, an effort to address disruptions caused by regional unrest.

 

Previously restricted to workers from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam, the policy will now also cover individuals from Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Philippines, and Indonesia. This strategic shift aims to streamline the recruitment process, especially during emergencies, by bypassing the cumbersome Memorandum of Understanding that generally takes two to three months.

 

Pongkawin explained that the move is intended to ensure business continuity by providing a more flexible labour supply. Recent disruptions saw over 100,000 Cambodian workers return home, leaving only about 30,000 with legal work permits in place. This has intensified shortages across various sectors.

 

The Ministry is actively collecting labour requests from employers nationwide, intending to deploy around 42,000 new workers from the newly included nations. The focus is on equitable workforce distribution to stabilise affected sectors.

 

Pongkawin is optimistic, stating that with effective workforce management, the situation could stabilise within two months. Emphasising fairness, the Ministry is committed to upholding strict compliance with labour regulations to protect both employers and workers.

 

By broadening its recruitment strategy, Thailand hopes to offset the immediate shortage and create a more resilient labour market, ensuring economic stability amid ongoing challenges.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-08-14

 

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

In response to ongoing labour shortages, particularly along the Thai-Cambodian border, Thailand is widening its recruitment of foreign workers. Labour Minister Pongkawin Jungrungruangkit announced yesterday that the Ministry of Labour would expand its foreign workforce to include eight nationalities, an effort to address disruptions caused by regional unrest.

Thailand is in a real mess... they can't even get slave labour these days.

Seriously, you can’t make this s**t up!

Rule number 1.

All employees must be able to speak Thai

LOL.

 

Why does Thailand think that workers from these other countries will want to come to Thailand to work?

 

Thailand would probably have more luck focusing on Africa; but then again.

28 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Thailand is in a real mess... they can't even get slave labour these days.

love the picture,all wearing safety hats and safety harnesses !!

I understand cheap labour and all, but why are they not teaching skills to Thais and getting them employed in jobs that will provide for them and put more money into the system through taxes

 

 

so sorry i think i answered my own question lol

They want to replace 100,000 legally employed Khmer who meanwhile departed for understandable reasons with 42,000 new labour imports? 

Nobody stated the number of illegal workers; the bureaucracy, avalanche of paper and corruption is paramount in getting an ASEAN citizen (apparently the freedom of travel and work has not been understood in all offices in Thailand) is self-explanatory. 

Why not getting all those Thais, apparently unemployed, back to work again? Well, that would have to include proper working conditions, legal salaries, social security benefits and possibly provident fund access? But most Thais hanging around are low if not non-skilled, misused in the past and hence almost impossible to convince to get back to work for money. They rather resort to other non-work income possibilities, be it borrowing forever, being a leech with friends and family or then catching up with a family member who has access to a rich Farang. 
The pendulum starts to swing back now, keeping the underlings uneducated and invited to neo-slavery has not only perks. 

The other day there was an article on referring to Sri Lankans not being up to the jobs. While this is not true, Thailand might want to look to its western neighbour Myanmar with its civil war raging for 3+ years. A lot of Burmese I know are now in Taiwan and Korea, in jobs they hate or are hazardous to their health. They would prefer working in Thailand but the gruesome stories from crossing into i.e. Mae Sot is known to literally any Burmese emigrating to Thailand 8-) 

 

4 hours ago, portisaacozzy said:

love the picture,all wearing safety hats and safety harnesses !!

Must've been another country

20 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

In response to ongoing labour shortages, particularly along the Thai-Cambodian border, Thailand is widening its recruitment of foreign workers.

 

The UK has 50,000 that are available for immediate shipping.

1 hour ago, The Cyclist said:

 

The UK has 50,000 that are available for immediate shipping.

 

If offered free air tickets, visas, work permits and accommodation, many would jump at the opportunity of working in Thailand!

8 hours ago, portisaacozzy said:

love the picture,all wearing safety hats and safety harnesses !!

Probably not taken in Thailand. 🤣🤣

15 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

LOL.

 

Why does Thailand think that workers from these other countries will want to come to Thailand to work?

 

Thailand would probably have more luck focusing on Africa; but then again.

Exactly. These added on nationalities will earn 10 times more a month in Dubai or Saudi.  My nephew is project manager for a huge Dubai company and he has a fantastic crew. His crew all go through training before starting .