BANGKOK, 16 October 2013 – The Cabinet has approved a new draft of the Skill Development Act that empowers ministers to categorize some security-related skilled labors to pass national standard test.
According to Department of Skill Development (DSD) director-general Mr. Nakorn Silapaarcha, the Cabinet today approved the Department’s proposed Skill Development Act (SDA) B.E. 2545. It is pending approval from the Office of the Council of State and will be submitted to the House of Representatives for consideration.
The main context of the SDA is that ministers can declare that certain professions that could possibly cause danger to the public or require specialist to perform, be available only to workers with skill certificate in that field. This will boost consumers’ confidence in products and services as well as raising professional standards in terms of quality up to a par with international ones . It could also be used to help screening an influx of foreign workers expected to come to Thailand in the wake of the ASEAN Community (AC) formation.
The DSD will draft new ministerial regulations in advance. This regulation will specify professions that could cause danger to the public or require specialist to perform, such as welder, construction worker, interior electrician, industrial electrician, and air conditioner mechanic.
Both Thai and foreign labors must pass national standard labor skill test in order to work in those specific professions. This will guarantee workers’ quality for their prospective employers. However, employers must pay the right compensation rate for workers with certification, said the DSD director-general.
