Thailand looks to expand foreign labour pool
Labour Minister Pongkawin Jungrungruangkit said on Wednesday that authorities have proposed allowing additional workers from countries such as Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Philippines and Indonesia.
Thailand currently has memoranda of understanding with four countries — Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam — to supply workers to Thai employers.
'The expansion to eight nationalities will allow us to bring in workers during emergencies, avoiding delays from the MoU process, which can take 2–3 months,' said Mr Pongkawin.
Expanding the labour pool would ensure businesses can continue their operations smoothly, even during unexpected disruptions such as the ongoing border conflict that has resulted in a mass exodus of Cambodian workers.
The Ministry of Labour says at least 100,000 Cambodian workers, about 30,000 of them holding legal work permits, have returned home via immigration channels recently. Anecdotal evidence from employers and others puts the actual figure at up to 500,000.
As a result, many businesses have reported labour shortages. The ministry is collecting requests from employers nationwide and aims to allow around 42,000 new foreign workers, distributing them fairly across all sectors.
Mr Pongkawin said he hoped the Cambodian labour shortage could be solved within two months through workforce management. The ministry would ensure fairness for all employers and workers, while maintaining strict adherence to labour regulations, he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bangkok Post
7 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
Your career playbook is outdated — and that's good
Remember when career success was defined by a corner office, a prestigious title and 25 years of loyalty? Not anymore. Today, the most valuable corporate leaders are not the ones who have followed a straight path. They are the ones who have adapted, reinvented themselves and dared to think beyond their job descriptions. Whether you are 35 and managing a regional team or 62 and chairing your third board, the rules have changed. That is exactly where your opportunity lies. From Linear Growth to Layered Growth In the old playbook, career growth was linear. Step up, move up, stay up. But in today's world, the most successful professionals are building layered growth. They are combining: Corporate experience with entrepreneurial thinking; Digital skills with human insight; Local context with global foresight. Consider these examples: A former fast-moving consumer goods director in Thailand is now leading sustainability transformation in a Southeast Asian unicorn. A retired pharma executive is building a leadership accelerator for Thai family businesses. A mid-level expat manager has launched an AI side venture with his Thai team after hours. They did not switch lanes. They expanded their bandwidth. Why Middle Managers Hold the Real Power Now Middle managers are no longer just execution arms. They are: Translators of strategy Enablers of change Carriers of culture. In times of uncertainty, they serve as the bridge between aspiration and activation. And yet, many feel stuck. Not junior enough to experiment. Not senior enough to disrupt. But that mindset is exactly what needs to change. This is the time to lead with an entrepreneurial spirit inside your organisation. Test ideas within your company just as you would outside it. Think like a founder while wearing the badge of a leader. Leadership Is No Longer Tied to Age or Hierarchy Some of the most courageous corporate decisions today are being made by: A 28-year-old strategy analyst challenging legacy KPIs; A 55-year-old chief human resources officer reimagining talent based on adaptability, not tenure; A 63-year-old chairman turning ESG from a compliance checklist into a brand advantage. It is not about climbing anymore. It is about contributing deeply, wisely and boldly. What Does This Mean for You? If you are a corporate executive: Embrace a hybrid mindset. Be both an operator and a visionary. If you are mid-career: Do not wait for permission. Propose that pilot project. Initiate that cross-border idea. Lead that taskforce. If you are senior and seasoned: Become a mentor for reinvention. Your legacy lies not only in what you have built, but in how you inspire others to build differently. Final Thought The most powerful leaders today are not just navigating change. They are owning it and helping others rise with them. Thailand is becoming a launchpad for corporate reinvention. Let your next chapter be your boldest yet. Arinya Talerngsri is Senior Vice President, Local Partner and Managing Director at BTS Thailand (formerly SEAC), part of the BTS Group, a leading global strategy implementation firm. She is passionate about revolutionising education and creating opportunities for Thais and people worldwide. Executives and organisations looking to collaborate or learn more about leadership development, talent development, succession planning and organisational transformation can contact her directly at or visit her LinkedIn profile.
Bangkok Post
19 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
PT rejects 'secret deal' rumours
The Pheu Thai Party (PT) denies claims that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra struck a secret deal with Constitutional Court judges to influence the upcoming ruling in suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra's case over a leaked audio clip of her conversation with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. Prompong Nopparit, a former Pheu Thai spokesman, on Saturday dismissed the reports as a "groundless fabrication" designed to discredit both Thaksin and Ms Paetongtarn, as the courts prepare to hand down verdicts in two politically sensitive cases this month. The Criminal Court has scheduled Aug 22 for its verdict in the lèse majesté and computer crime case against Thaksin, widely perceived as the de facto leader of the ruling Pheu Thai Party. A week later, on Aug 29, the Constitutional Court will rule on whether Ms Paetongtarn breached ethical standards in connection with the audio recording. Opponents are exploiting the timing to stir distrust and confusion, Mr Prompong said, adding that dragging judges into politics could also damage the credibility of the judiciary. "Just think about it. Who would ever do such a thing? As for Thaksin's case, there's nothing there; it's not a cause for concern," he said. Regarding Ms Paetongtarn's case, he said the witness testimony, documents and explanations presented to the court were comprehensive and complete, and that all allegations could be addressed. "The prime minister has acted transparently, and nothing in the leaked clip undermines the nation's security," said Mr Prompong. The controversy stems from a recording circulated online on June 18 of a conversation allegedly between Ms Paetongtarn and Hun Sen. In it, Ms Paetongtarn appeared to make critical comments about the commander of the Second Army Region and repeatedly sought to appease Hun Sen, even expressing her willingness to yield to his demands. The complaint to the court accuses her of violating ethical standards for political office-holders. In a written clarification submitted to the court on Thursday, Ms Paetongtarn addressed a particularly contentious remark in the clip: "If there's anything you want, just let me know. I'll take care of it." She claimed the words were part of her negotiating technique, not an improper offer of favours as she sought to appease Hun Sen, a personal friend of her father's. The two families have since fallen out over the clip row. Former senator Somchai Swangkarn also refuted the rumours in a Facebook post, saying the Aug 4–9 trip by certain Constitutional Court judges to India was an official study programme, not a secret negotiation. He dismissed the claims as "completely untrue", citing clear evidence published on the court's official website about the judges' India visit. The site confirms the president of the court, along with several judges, travelled to India as part of the Executive-Level Constitutional Court Officials Training Programme (Batch 1). The delegation, he said, met India's chief justice, visited the Supreme Court and Delhi University's law faculty and paid a courtesy call on the Thai ambassador in New Delhi. Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong, the party's secretary-general, said Ms Paetongtarn intended to appear in court in person on Aug 21 -- her birthday -- when the inquiry session is scheduled. When asked whether Pheu Thai had prepared a contingency plan in case the prime minister faced a political mishap, Mr Sorawong responded: "Not at all. We have full confidence in the prime minister's integrity, and everything will be dealt with based on the facts. Whatever will be will be. We'll just have to wait and see." Asked about possible successors, he said veteran nominee Chaikasem Nitisiri was always prepared if circumstances required. Mr Chaikasem has previously said that anyone stepping in as a prime ministerial candidate must be fully ready.
Bangkok Post
19 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
Border ties 'need time'
The border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia may have eased, with both sides having agreed to honour a truce and other local-level pacts recently brokered by Asean chair Malaysia, but analysts say restoring bilateral relations may take years. Thailand will need smart mechanisms for bringing Cambodia back to the bilateral table, said Panitan Wattanayagorn, an international relations expert. "It may take around 1–5 years for both countries to come to reconciliation," he added. How quickly shattered bilateral ties heal could also depend on how the relationship between Hun Sen's family and the Shinawatras plays out. Currently, the relationship between the two families remains intense, he said, which has closed the door of opportunity for using personal channels to end the conflict, delaying the reconciliation process. Similarly, Asst Prof Prapee Apichatsakol, Srinakharinwirot University Department of Law lecturer and the vice president of American Studies Association in Thailand (Asat), said restoring Thailand-Cambodia relations will depend on whether Cambodia agrees to talks at the bilateral level. They have resisted such talks in the past, preferring to appeal to international bodies as they seek to justify their stand. "Cambodia has been rejecting all the bilateral mechanisms that Thailand proposed," she said. Experts say repercussions of the conflict will be profound, affecting not only bilateral relations but also the political structure in Thailand and Asean as a whole. Mr Panitan said the border tensions have spilt over into Thailand's domestic politics such as when the Bhumjaithai Party left the coalition right after the audio clip leak of a conversation between Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. Not only did the departure lead to a cabinet reshuffle, said Mr Panitan, it also led to uncertainty over Ms Paetongtarn's job, with the Constitutional Court now pondering her fate. Public trust towards the government has gone, and so has the trust between the government and the army, said Mr Panitan. "The conflict has had a profound impact on Thailand's political structure. If the government does nothing, it will not gain public trust. But if it is doing too much, it will be accused of being controlled by the army," he added. Ms Prapee said the conflict has created a deep rift between people of both nations as negative sentiment is spurred by fast access to information and social media. Mr Panitan said Asean should maintain its central role in mediating the conflict, or superpowers could step in and split Asean down the middle. "Major powers can affect Asean by using their 'information arms' to lend support to the parties they are aligned with," said the former international relations lecturer. "Asean unity has reduced significantly, and a divided Asean is beneficial for superpowers to reap their own benefits," he added. On the other hand, Ms Prapee said it remains to be seen whether Asean's attempt to mediate the Thai-Cambodian conflict will result in a long-term peace at the border. She said Asean has failed to implement its five-point consensus in Myanmar since 2021. "A proactive role played by Asean in the Thailand-Cambodia conflict tells the world that they are still here, which is good for the image of Asean, although it is unclear what Asean has done to solve the problem in the long run," she added. Mr Panitan said a committee from both sides should add flesh to the agreement reached during the General Border Committee meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 4-7, rather than to wait for the next GBC meeting in September. A collaborative push to crack down on cross-border crimes and scammers along the border would also help. Nevertheless, a more urgent task is to establish an Interim Observer Team (IOT) to inspect the area where future violations of the ceasefire agreement via anti-personnel landmines might occur. Both sides also need to maintain current troop deployments without further movement and refrain from proactive actions that may escalate tension. Cambodia has many informal armies, which it will have to control. "The most important milestone is to finish the unfinished demarcation, where around two-thirds of the work has been accomplished," said Mr Panitan. "This means we have to use all our diplomatic mechanisms to ensure peace on paper becomes sustainable peace for the next 75 years," he added. Ms Prapee also said Thailand needs to be more diplomatically active in engaging with the world, as it has lagged behind Cambodia in this area. Thailand may have underestimated Cambodia due to its more advanced armed forces and a certain legitimacy on the global stage, she said. However, this has made Thailand less prepared and rather passive. "We need to better evaluate the country we are dealing with. Although they might be small, they can be very well-prepared," she said. "International politics are more complex now as media and technology are thrown into the mix. Our diplomacy needs to adjust to keep up with international politics," she added.
