Taiwan remains top overseas place for Thai workers

BANGKOK, September 2 (TNA) - Thai nationals, choosing to work overseas, have mostly worked in Taiwan over the past two years and remitted a large amount of money back home. Arak Prommanee, Director-General of the Department of Employment, under the Ministry of Labour, told journalists on Friday that over 230,000 Thai nationals have been allowed to work overseas over the past two years, or nearly 120,000 annually, most of whom or more than 56,000 have worked in Taiwan. Arak acknowledged that Thai workers overseas have remitted home a total of up to about 87 billion baht yearly. Arak said for those in Taiwan, they have worked in several industries, namely textile, machinery, metal, plastic and electronic products manufacturing, construction and food production. According to the senior official, Thai workers are highly demanded by Taiwanese employers due to their hard working and perseverance. In order to work in Taiwan, the senior official noted, each approved Thai worker is to pay a total of about 5,000 Taiwanese dollars monthly (about 5,400 baht) to his Department of Employment for providing them with necessary services, including protecting them from being deceived or falling victims of human traffickers and taking care of them through interpreters, food, accommodations and health and labour insurance. (TNA)