Vietnamese migrant workers will be allowed to register at Thailand’s labour centres for one-year work permit licenses with comprehensive benefits, the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand said in an announcement on February 24.

Job seekers at a local job fair

The declaration was made based on a resolution on management of migrant workers from Viet Nam approved by the Cabinet of Thailand on February 10, which stipulates the specific employment positions that may register for work permits.

Most Vietnamese unskilled workers are working illegally in Thailand, gaining entry to the country as a tourist and remaining to work without licenses or agreements with employers.

However, under the resolution, home servants and unskilled persons working in construction, fisheries, and restaurants will be granted work permits.

Registration dates have not yet been released, but the relevant Thai offices have been assigned tasks. Specifically, the Ministry of Home Affairs will receive and manage the files of Vietnamese workers while the Ministry of Labour will receive employers’ recruitment registration and consider work permit licenses. The Ministry of Health will be in charge of providing health insurance for workers, and the Police will inspect the entire process.

Making work permits available for Vietnamese guest workers in Thailand was agreed on by the countries’ Prime Ministers in Ha Noi during November 2014. Relevant ministries and offices are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding on labour cooperation to facilitate the agreement.

Labour centres eligible for work permit license registration and granting are located in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Rayong, Nakhon Phanom and Songkhla provinces.