Thai skilled workers welcome in Gulf states

BANGKOK, January 9 (TNA) - Gulf states demand a number of Thai skilled workers, with the demand in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) alone reported at about 200. Permanent Secretary for Labour Jirasak Sukonthachart told journalists that the about 200 Thai skilled workers are, therefore, expected to be sent to UAE over the next two months to meet the Gulf state's demand. Jirasak said he has learned from the Abu Dhabi Security Fund that UAE has huge demand for housemaids, welders, constructors and electricians, but the skilled Thai workers to be sent to UAE within the next couple of months will not include housemaids after past reports showed that Thai housemaids were mistreated overseas. According to the senior official, Thai skilled workers in the same fields have also been demanded in other Gulf states, including Qatar and Oman. The senior official noted that a government-to-government labour agreement needs to be concluded between Thailand and Qatar before Thai skilled workers can be sent to Doha, with its signing expected after the Thai government is in office. In case of Oman, where a number of skilled workers in the same areas are also needed, the senior official acknowledged that a joint Thai-Omani task force will be soon set up to work out details of labour demand and skill development in Oman, where a labour skill training centre will also be opened and funded by the Omani government, in which Thai workers will be trained and part of them will later become skill trainers in the future.(TNA)