BANGKOK, 4 February 2013 The Ministry of Labor has instructed labor attaches to Thai embassies worldwide to assure Thai workers in their respective areas of fair treatment and to make their voices heard.
Labor Minister Padermchai Sasomsap told Thai labor attaches in a meeting in Bangkok to hand down his policy that any controversies regarding overseas employments, particularly those affecting the country’s image must be resolved quickly. He urged them to get ready for the approaching ASEAN Economic Community.
Mr. Padermchai said he would rather see Thai workers offered a job through a government-to-government contract, than through middlemen or employment agencies which often charge their clients an exorbitant fee for a job. He added a G2G contract would ensure workers of fair treatment and living conditions.
According to him, more than 440,000 Thai laborers are working overseas; however, half of that number is working illegally, mostly in Malaysia. The minister urged Thai labor attaches to work pro-actively to win trust from workers so that they will confide in them.
