Chulapan revealed the Cabinet has approved an MOU on Thai-Sri Lankan labor cooperation to solve labor shortages, emphasizing it will not take jobs from Thais and will implement strict controls from origin to destination.
On 8 Sep 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Chulapan Amornwiwat, Minister of Labor, stated that the Cabinet approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on labor cooperation between the Kingdom of Thailand and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to address labor shortages, especially in the construction industry where employers have consistently raised concerns. Leaving the issue unresolved could impact the production chain and the country's economic competitiveness.
Mr. Chulapan addressed concerns about job competition by explaining that the acceptance of Sri Lankan workers will not affect employment opportunities for Thais. The jobs offered are operational and labor-intensive roles that the domestic labor market severely lacks and that most Thai workers do not choose or apply for. The imported labor is intended to fill these gaps to prevent negative effects from spreading to other jobs held by Thais overall.
The key points of the MOU focus on establishing a proper, transparent, and verifiable employment system from origin to destination as follows:
1. Employment contracts must be signed between employers and workers before entering Thailand. Workers must hold valid work permits and work only in legally permitted occupations.
2. Workers will be fairly protected under Thai labor laws, with a mechanism for information exchange between the two countries to prevent human trafficking and illegal brokers.
3. Employment contracts are set for 2 years, renewable for another 2 years. Upon contract expiration, workers must return immediately to their home country, with the employer responsible for all repatriation costs.
Mr. Chulapan emphasized that this cooperation will help drive Thailand's economy forward continuously while effectively organizing migrant labor into a lawful system.