Labor Minister Julapan Amornwiwat led a team to meet with major private sector leaders in Songkhla, listening to challenges and suggestions, emphasizing stricter enforcement of reserved occupations for Thai nationals, driving labor demand, and boosting the southern economy to move forward.
31 Aug 2026 GMT+7 Mr. Julapan Amornwiwat, Minister of Labor, chaired a meeting to gather opinions, challenges, and suggestions from private sector representatives, including the Songkhla Chamber of Commerce, the Industry Council, the Hotel Association, and the Songkhla Fisheries Association. The purpose was to set direction for labor policies and initiatives in Songkhla province. Present were Pol. Lt. Col. Wannapong Kotcharak, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labor; Mr. Pichet Thongphan, Deputy Permanent Secretary; Ms. Buppha Ruangsut, Director-General of the Department of Skill Development; Acting Second Lieutenant Somsak Phormdam, Labor Ministry Inspector, along with other ministry executives. The meeting took place at the Yod Khunpon meeting room of Man Afro Frozen Foods Co., Ltd., in Mueang Songkhla District, Songkhla province.
Minister Julapan explained that Man Afro Frozen Foods Co., Ltd., which produces and sells frozen processed seafood for domestic and export markets, currently employs 803 workers: 796 Thai nationals and 7 Cambodian migrant workers. Discussions with company management revealed a labor shortage in industrial refrigeration machinery technicians. The company requested the Ministry of Labor to designate essential occupations such as air conditioning technicians and manual arc welders, beyond the current classification limited to building electricians, to increase certifications of skills for those managing the food and refrigeration industries. In response, he instructed the Department of Skill Development to create relevant training courses for fiscal year 2027 in cooperation with businesses under the policy 'study with budget, graduate with a job' to better meet private sector needs.
Additionally, Minister Julapan addressed labor shortage solutions, noting that the Ministry is negotiating a memorandum of understanding with Myanmar and holding discussions with countries like Sri Lanka to import sufficient, suitably skilled workers for the industrial sector. These workers will receive upskilling to match industry requirements before entering workplaces.
Furthermore, the private sector proposed that the Ministry of Labor strictly enforce reserved occupations for Thai nationals in the area, adjust wages according to business types, and review practices related to the Employee Welfare Fund. The minister acknowledged these proposals and urged relevant agencies to implement the policies. He also invited employers to help communicate and promote the Ministry’s Traffy Fondue system to local workers, enabling direct communication with the Ministry for labor-related issues. This system offers workers a convenient, fast, and accessible channel to report problems or file complaints.
