Thailand-Vietnam MoU on labour to take effect soon
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AN agreement between Thailand and Vietnam on migrant labour is expected to take effect early next year.
Thailand is also preparing to take workers from two other Asean nations under memorandums of understanding (MoUs) for the upcoming Asean Economic Community.
Labour Minister General Sirichai Dithakul met yesterday with delegates from Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia to discuss the MoUs.
Thailand has already signed MoUs with Myanmar and Cambodia but there were discussions on how they should be implemented.
“The MoUs will focus on ensuring that migrants come to work in Thailand legally, receive legal protection and stay immune to human trafficking,” Sirichai said.
When the Asean Economic Community, or AEC, fully materialises, there will be a free flow of labour.
Following his meeting with Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Tat Thanh, Sirichai said Hanoi was ready to work with Bangkok in taking care of Vietnamese migrants in Thailand.
Nguyen also said: “We will jointly establish a working group to take care of Vietnamese migrants from the very beginning. The whole process will cover immigration, training and return to their homeland.”
The Vietnamese ambassador expected the MoU between Thailand and his country to take effect in the first quarter of next year.
Later, Sirichai met with Cambodian Ambassador Eat Sophea and Myanmar Ambassador U Win Maung to discuss the implementation of MoUs on labour.
Sirichai and the Myanmar delegate |also discussed efforts to fight human trafficking.
