Thailand prepares for ASEAN free movements of skilled labours

BANGKOK, February 1 (TNA) - Thailand is preparing for free movements of skilled labours within the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by 2015, when the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is scheduled to be formed, covering measures to prevent any influx of unskilled labours into the country. Prapan Montakarntivongse, Director-General of the Ministry of Labour's Department of Skill Development, said that Thailand has signed a regional agreement on free movements of skilled labours within ASEAN for doctors, dentists, engineers, architects, nurses, accountants and surveyors, but the Kingdom has not yet signed a regional pact on free movements of employees in the tourism sector pending a conclusion on agreed qualifications of the regional tourism personnel. Prapan insisted, however, that Thailand will timely sign the ASEAN agreement on free movements of employees in the tourism sector by 2015, and that when the AEC is established, Thai authorities will resort to international standards for skilled labours to screen and prevent any influx of unskilled labours into the country. According to the senior Labour Ministry official, his ministry has set up a committee tasked with improving Thai workers' skills, as part of the country's preparations for the formation of the AEC, covering enhancing the Thai workers’ communication skills in the English and other languages used in the ASEAN bloc. (TNA)