More professions for foreign workers

BANGKOK, July 20 (TNA) -- Labour authorities will increase the professions that foreign workers can do as some reserved professions do not interest Thai workers. Varanon Peetiwan, director-general of the Department of Employment, said that labour authorities would draft an organic bill under the executive decree on the employment of foreign workers and the revised list of professions reserved for Thais would be part of the bill. An old law keeps 39 professions particularly for Thai people. They include agriculture, animal husbandry, bricklaying, tour guide, knife making and haircutting. Later the cabinet allowed workers from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar to do labour and household services. The society and investment promotion policies have changed, many operators commented that some reserved professions including bricklaying no longer interested Thai citizens, Mr Varanon said. The list of reserved professions would be revised to meet present circumstances and respond to demands for foreign labour and the job opportunities of Thai people, he said. Labour authorities would discuss the issue with operators, Mr Varanon said. (TNA)