Vietnam, Thailand eye stronger labour cooperation

Bangkok (VNA) - Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Phan Chi Thanh had a working session with Thai Deputy Minister of Labour Surachai Chaitrakulthong on March 24 to discuss measures to further step up labour cooperation between the two countries.

The Vietnamese diplomat briefed on economic cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand, saying that Thai businesses highly value business opportunities in Vietnam and want to expand their investment in the country.

Many Thai corporations have invested in Vietnam with large-scale projects, using many Vietnamese workers, he said, adding that the Vietnamese Government always creates favourable conditions for Thai labourers to work in the country.

He thanked the Thai Government for supporting legal workers from Vietnamm in the past time, and suggested the Thai side consider adding more industries for Vietnamese workers.

Regarding the signing of a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation, and a labour agreement between the two labour ministries, Ambassador Thanh urged the two sides to soon exchange expert-level delegations to reach consensus on a plan to signing the extension of the MoU and the labour agreement, including reviewing and supplementing contents of the signed documents, including additional occupations.

The Vietnamese Embassy is ready to support and promote cooperation between the relevant agencies of the two countries, he affirmed.

For his part, Chaitrakulthong highlighted the fruitful development of the bilateral relations, stressing that both countries are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) so they hold many advantages and potential to foster cooperation for mutual success and development.

He appreciated the Vietnamese Government’s support and facilitation for Thai citizens and enterprises to work and do business in Vietnam in recent times, noting that the number of enterprises of the two countries investing in each other's markets is on the rise.

The Thai Ministry of Labour agreed that the two sides need to take measures to increase the number of Vietnamese workers in Thailand in the coming time, he stated, revealing that the Thai ministry’s Department of Skill Development facilitates the opening of training courses for guest workers in the country.

He agreed with recommendations and proposals of the Vietnamese diplomat on the need to review and supplement the MoU and the Labour Agreement towards the signing of the renewed cooperation documents as soon as possible./.