Government House, Cabinet approves draft memorandum of understanding on sending Thai workers to the Republic of Korea under the foreign labor employment system. Mr. Karom Polpornklang, Deputy Government Spokesperson, announced that the Cabinet has approved the following: 1. Draft Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Labor of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Ministry of Labor of the Republic of Korea on sending Thai workers to the Republic of Korea under the Employment Permit System (EPS (Draft Memorandum of Understanding)). However, if there is a need to amend the draft Memorandum of Understanding in parts that are not essential or conflict with the interests of the country, and 2. The Minister of Labor shall sign the Memorandum of Understanding. Mr. Karam said that the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Labor and Employment have signed 6 Memorandums of Understanding on the dispatch of Thai workers to the Republic of Korea under the EPS system. The objective of the Memorandum of Understand ing is to provide both parties with a clear framework for cooperation in dispatching Thai workers to work in the Republic of Korea under the efficient foreign labor employment system, starting from the labor recruitment process, language and skill testing, setting fees or expenses for traveling to work, visa and immigration, working and staying in the Republic of Korea, and returning to Thailand when the specified period of time has expired to prevent illegal stay in the Republic of Korea. The latest MOU, signed on 6 September 2019, expired on 5 September 2021, but will remain in effect during the renewal process, unless either party requests an end to its validity. Since the signing of the first MOU in 2004 until 22 January 2024, a total of 94,764 Thai workers have been sent to work in the Republic of Korea, with 68,357 (72.13 percent) working in the industrial sector, 10,450 (11.03 percent) in the agricultural and livestock sector, 9,326 (9.84 percent) in the construction sector, 23 (0.02 percent) in the f isheries sector, and 6,608 (6.97 percent) selected for re-entry. 'The Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Employment and Labor have been continuously negotiating to draft this MOU (No. 7). The draft MOU has the same substance as the previous six, but some details have been added, such as adding that the Ministry of Labor and Labor of the Republic of Korea can request the Ministry of Labor to provide necessary support from abroad to workers upon arrival in the Republic of Korea under unpredictable circumstances, such as epidemics, to ensure the continuity of the EPS process and to prevent infectious diseases under such circumstances. The working group considering and drafting the agreement on the MOU on sending Thai workers to the Republic of Korea under the EPS system has considered the MOU proposed by the Republic of Korea to amend it and has reached a conclusion, including informing the Republic of Korea,' said Mr. Karam. Source: Thai News Agency
