Shortage of labour in Thailand likely to reach 300,000-600,000 in next 3-5 years

Labour shortage in the Thai industrial sector looms large in the next 3-5 years with as many as 300,000-600,000 workers in need, Labour Minister Gen Surasak Karnjanarat revealed on Tuesday.

Speaking after a meeting of the government Committee on Labour Solutions, Gen Surasak said the meeting saw it necessary for the government to update the database of the National Labour Information Center (NLIC) for use in the planning of labour production among ministries involved such as Industry, Education and Industry.

The meeting also emphasized the importance to improve labor skills and the production of workers. It suggested the use of technology in workplace and tax privileges to be offered to industrial entrepreneurs who provide internship for vocational students.

The meeting acknowledged that it was necessary to recruit more foreign workers if domestic workforce was insufficient. The Board of Investment reported to the meeting Thailand would need more than 165,000 workers to fill in jobs in new factories in the next 3-5 years.

At the meeting, the committee also discussed the necessity of improving the qualityof migrant workers in special economic zones in Thailand and those working in Thai factories in neighboring countries.

The Labour Ministry would use results of the meeting in drafting an action plan involving both short- and long-term approaches during the next 3-5 years. The final draft of the plan will be considered again in the next meeting of the committee.

NNT

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