Thailand to recruit 10,000 Lankan workers

Thailand has approved the recruitment of 10,000 Sri Lankan workers to help address labour shortages in several sectors, following bilateral labour agreements between the two countries.

Thai Labour Minister Julapun Amornvivat said on Friday (6) that the Foreign Workers Management Policy Committee had approved the recruitment under an existing memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Thailand and Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is among the first countries identified by Thailand as an additional source of migrant workers, with the initial recruitment target set at 10,000.

Julapun said the move would provide Thai employers with an additional source of labour and help businesses maintain operations amid continuing workforce shortages.

The decision follows Cabinet approval on September 8 of an MOU on labour cooperation between Thailand and Sri Lanka, together with an agreement governing the employment of Sri Lankan workers in Thailand.

The agreements establish procedures covering recruitment, employment contracts, medical examinations and the repatriation of workers to Sri Lanka.

They also include measures to prevent illegal recruitment and human trafficking, while ensuring that workers are recruited through formal and legal channels.

The initiative comes amid continued demand for workers in several sectors of the Thai economy, with industrial operators and employers pressing the government to address labour shortages.

The approval is expected to expand legal employment opportunities for Sri Lankan workers while helping Thailand diversify its sources of migrant labour.