Workers in certain occupations may need to be authorized before getting a job

[webfact]

Workers in certain occupations may need to be authorized before getting a job

BANGKOK, 4 March 2015 (NNT)- The Department of Skill Development (DSD) is planning to make a list of occupations that require verification in order to assure safety in workplace.

According to DSD Director General M.L. Boontarik Smithi, the DSD is currently working with various career associations in identifying occupations that could potentially be harmful to the public and the workers themselves.

New requirements will be enforced demanding prospective employees of these jobs to be verified by the authorities of their qualifications and skills. The move is aimed at increasing safety for both the workers and people around them.

Labor Minister General Surasal Kanjanarat will be asked to approve the criteria applicable to electricians and welders first. However, they will be notified and allowed a period of time to adjust to the new regulations before they take effect on March 26.

Employers will also be required to hire only candidates that have been authorized to work in such fields. They could face a maximum fine of 30,000 baht if they do not abide by the rules. The workers who have successfully gained an employment without proof of authorization will be subjected to a fine of up to 5,000 baht.


-- NNT 2015-03-04

[khwaibah]

They can start by putting politicians at the top of the list.

[zaphod reborn]

Thailand's response to ASEAN integration = protectionism. This has nothing to do with workplace safety.

[Thian]

Just wait untill a millionaire from the EU or USA or China gets electocuted on his yacht or 5*hotel. I see very dangerous electricity ALL OVER Thailand.

Why not rent some farang/japanese safety experts to show where the dangers are? It's just going to happen one day, no doubt about that.

[harada]

They can start by putting politicians at the top of the list.

And their assistants.

[Aladdin]

They cannot even verify the driving skills before handing out driving licenses which should be quite simple at a driving school. And most important, the attitude. “HOKUS POKUS” decorations hanging from the rear-view mirror blocking the sight is more important than to have working brakes, safety belt, stopping for red light and driving sober etc.

Edited March 4, 2015 by Aladdin

[MaiChai]

Welding is pretty dangerous. I know one Thai family who sent their 14 year old boy to work in one of those Chinese shop houses weldind gates all day. He also lived on the premises and worked 12 hour days. He lasted 6 months. Eventually returned home complaining of eye problems. Thailand remains 3rd world while they allow this to happen.

[Thian]

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Welding is pretty dangerous. I know one Thai family who sent their 14 year old boy to work in one of those Chinese shop houses weldind gates all day. He also lived on the premises and worked 12 hour days. He lasted 6 months. Eventually returned home complaining of eye problems. Thailand remains 3rd world while they allow this to happen.

That's because Thai weld with sunglasses and not a weldingmask. A mask is much more tainted. Also they weld without skinprotection. There's a lot of UV light while welding.

It's the same as the butcher i saw today in Villa market, she pushed my minced meat with her fingers in the pack and when i told her to stop that she was annoyed. Thai don't have any education and when you try to teach them something they are annoyed because the stupid farang don't know anything.

Thailand really needs to grow up fast and learn how to respect comments from a real pro. Every Thai certification is a farce because all applicants always pass.

[ukrules]

Labor Minister General Surasal Kanjanarat will be asked to approve the criteria applicable to electricians and welders first. However, they will be notified and allowed a period of time to adjust to the new regulations before they take effect on March 26.

March 26th...so they're going to do all this in just 3 weeks...

[rametindallas]

Plumbers failing to install a 'P'- trap (allowing sewer gas into the room), electricians failing to connect the 'ground' wire (setting up possible electrocution), welders leaving slag inclusions (so there is a chance of catastrophic failure), and so on. Yes, Thailand could use some standards but they really need to spend a year working out what the standards are and only then setting up a review board to issue permits/licenses. I wonder if the trade schools are run the same as the other schools, i.e. All who paid tuition will pass.

If done correctly, this is a good step in the right direction. If it is done poorly, it is just another added business expense for no gain and sets up expectations that work will be done correctly when it won't.

[Thai at Heart]

Thailand's response to ASEAN integration = protectionism. This has nothing to do with workplace safety.

It may be, but there isn't a professional ticketing system in Thailand to certify qualification .

Sparkies, welders, plant operators should ve certifies. It may be protectionism but it also certifies a minimum level of quality and competence.

[phoenixdoglover]

Looks like the government has good intentions...but they're approach could be better. They should set up certifying authorities for each skilled trade, then establish 2 levels of certification: 1) apprentice, and 2) certified. Then achievement of these would be based on work experience and a testing regime. For the workers it would be voluntary; but contractors and other employers would have to decide whether they wanted to have "real" skilled workers or amateurs; and the public would be educated about the benefits of employing certified tradesmen.

The process would have to be essentially free of corruption.

Oh, well.

[Valentine]

A proper certified apprenticeship programme would help but surely any sane employer would at least check the prospective employees credentials before hiring & then with the proviso that he proves his skills on the job before being given full time employment. I could not count how many workers we have had demanding high day rates because they were so skilled but turning out not to be.

[Valentine]

Looks like the government has good intentions...but they're approach could be better. They should set up certifying authorities for each skilled trade, then establish 2 levels of certification: 1) apprentice, and 2) certified. Then achievement of these would be based on work experience and a testing regime. For the workers it would be voluntary; but contractors and other employers would have to decide whether they wanted to have "real" skilled workers or amateurs; and the public would be educated about the benefits of employing certified tradesmen.

The process would have to be essentially free of corruption.

Oh, well.

2nd last sentence basically covers it considering corruption is so ingrained as it will take many years & a strong government to make a dent in the corruption here.

[Lupatria]

I wish they will include the hordes of hobby electricians, "doctors" who practice their profession. I wouldn't hang my hopes too high assuming the BIB are considered in this group.

[FangFerang]

"The workers who have successfully gained an employment without proof of authorization will be subjected to a fine of up to 5,000 baht."

So...illegal workers being trafficked illegally will now be fined for not reading Thai and knowing they needed to have proof of authorization? No wonder they can't fix human traficking, they keep trying to legitimize it by making it the foreign worker's responsibility.

[maidee]

ah they is why there is almost no 3rd line in any thai house, new or old...

[paulchiangmai]

Well Crossy, how will it feel to be the only electrician in Thailand.

[Jonmarleesco]

'Employers will also be required to hire only candidates that have been authorized to work in such fields. They could face a maximum fine of 30,000 baht if they do not abide by the rules.' Does that mean no relatives

[Thian]

I was shopping in Siam paragon today, had big issues with the personell who overcharged me on the creditcard and then couldn't speak any english. The supervisor came and also couldn't speak a word english. Then after 20 minutes a translator came and he had to help me have money back. They "forgot" to give me the promised discount.

Why do they have such stupid personell in their newest toplevel mall?

If you can't speak any english you shouldn't be allowed to work there at all, it's a disgrace for Thailand. I'll go shopping in Singapore only from now on and laugh about the jokes they make about the Thai.

The General has a huge job to do if he really wants to upgrade Thailand. Nobody here is professional, they all just do something.

"Made in Thailand" allready is a trademark for low quality, it's the same with Thai personell now. We don't hire them but just wait untill the rest finds out about this.

[Alwyn]

crikey, they'll start insisting taxi and bus drivers have a driving license next

[jdinasia]

Thailand's response to ASEAN integration = protectionism. This has nothing to do with workplace safety.

It may be, but there isn't a professional ticketing system in Thailand to certify qualification .

Sparkies, welders, plant operators should ve certifies. It may be protectionism but it also certifies a minimum level of quality and competence.

It isn't protectionism.

[Chris Lawrence]

There goes most of the Thai workforce? Trade certificates for the people in the country areas?

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

Today's announcement of certification for skilled trades would have meaning in a country with a trades college and apprenticeship system. But Thailand does not. Even if you can prove the kingdom does have something like it, it's so corrupt, like everything else, that nothing will be accomplished -- except a tool for protectionism.

Edited March 5, 2015 by Kaoboi Bebobp

[jdinasia]

Today's announcement of certification for skilled trades would have meaning in a country with a trades college and apprenticeship system. But Thailand does not. Even if you can prove the kingdom does have something like it, it's so corrupt, like everything else, that nothing will be accomplished -- except a tool for protectionism.

It is not about protectionism. ASEAN doesn't open the area to massive work migration. A few specific professional occupations will be able to seek employment in the region easier, but not the occupations covered here.

Yes Thailand has trade colleges.

[Soutpeel]

Thailand's response to ASEAN integration = protectionism. This has nothing to do with workplace safety.

It may be, but there isn't a professional ticketing system in Thailand to certify qualification .

Sparkies, welders, plant operators should ve certifies. It may be protectionism but it also certifies a minimum level of quality and competence.

The fact is Thailand does have a "professional ticketing" system for sparkies, welders etc, however the people who come through these systems will not be wiring up or doing welding jobs on somebodies farang mansion in Isaan, and I guess this is only exposure most farangs get to so called Thai "tradesmen", which they are not in the first instance

the proper sparkies and welders are working in industry in Thailand and certainly will not be working for THB 300-500/day the average farang wants to pay them

Factual reality check - The proper qualified Thai welders in industry earn between USD 150 and 400/day dependent on how many certifications they carry, further Thai welders, and I mean the real ones are some of the most skilled in the world and do work all over the world

[Soutpeel]

That's because Thai weld with sunglasses and not a weldingmask. A mask is much more tainted. Also they weld without skinprotection. There's a lot of UV light while welding.

Do they really ? so Real Thai welders weld with sunglasses on ?....fact is the "welders" welding with sunglasses on are not "welders", they are wannbee's

[yankee99]

Welders that would eliminate 50% of the work force :}

[Soutpeel]

welders leaving slag inclusions (so there is a chance of catastrophic failure), and so on.

really ? in fact slag inclusions are some of the least detrimental discontinuities in a weld from an engineering perspective and just about all your major international construction codes allow a certain length of permissible slag in weld, and your suggesting Thai welders are the only ones who put slag into welds ?

but of course I shall bow down to your superior knowledge of structural and welding engineering ..

[jdinasia]

That's because Thai weld with sunglasses and not a weldingmask. A mask is much more tainted. Also they weld without skinprotection. There's a lot of UV light while welding.

Do they really ? so Real Thai welders weld with sunglasses on ?....fact is the "welders" welding with sunglasses on are not "welders", they are wannbee's

I agree with the rest of your posts on this topic, but with this one you missed the mark.

They're welders but shouldn't be.