Thailand is moving to deepen international labour cooperation after the Cabinet approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on labour cooperation and an agreement on the employment of Sri Lankan workers in Thailand, establishing a formal channel for bringing foreign workers into the country legally.
The initial target is 10,000 Sri Lankan workers to help address labour shortages in key sectors, with controls covering recruitment, health checks, employment contracts and repatriation aimed at curbing human trafficking and illegal employment.
Labour shortages in the industrial sector and among Thai businesses remain a major challenge that the government is seeking to address. The agreements are therefore expected to help ease the shortages by providing a regulated recruitment mechanism.
Capt Patdarasm Thongsaluaykorn, deputy government spokesperson, explained that the agreements follow several years of coordination and negotiations aimed at responding to requests from businesses and employers in Thailand.
The cooperation is divided into two main components designed to establish clear, transparent and verifiable standards for managing migrant labour throughout the process.
A key feature of the agreements is the principle of non-discrimination. Sri Lankan nationals employed in Thailand under the MOU will have their rights and welfare protected under Thai labour law on the same basis as those of local workers.
They will be entitled to the remuneration and benefits specified in their employment contracts and will have access to Thailand’s legal procedures and mechanisms in the event of an employment dispute.
The government believes that establishing a regulated channel for Sri Lankan workers under the MOU will not only help curb illegal labour recruitment and reduce the risk of human trafficking, but also support Thailand’s economic stability by enabling industries facing labour shortages to continue operating under transparent and fair employment rules.
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