The Labour Ministry has refused to give in to demands by the commercial fishing sector to bypass the lengthy hiring process for migrant workers to tackle a labour shortage.
Labour Minister Adul Sangsingkeo said fishing operators must continue to hire migrant workers under MoU contracts but authorities concerned will try to streamline the process.
Fishing operators want Section 83 of the fisheries law to be invoked to facilitate the hiring of 40,000 migrant workers. The clause would allow the Department of Fisheries to register the additional foreign workers.
Authorities will help to address the issue by improving hiring processes, said Pol Gen Adul.
Anurak Thosarat, chief of the Department of Employment, said the department will invite all concerned parties to a meeting in two weeks' time.
On the issue of eradicating forced labour, Pol Gen Adul said the bill on the prevention and suppression of forced labour has been approved by the cabinet and is pending a review by the Council of State and is expected to be sent to the National Legislative Assembly on May 25.
