Vietnamese migrant workers will be allowed to register at Thailand’slabour centres for one-year work permit licenses with comprehensivebenefits, the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand said in an announcement onFebruary 24.

The declaration was made based on aresolution on management of migrant workers from Vietnam approved bythe Cabinet of Thailand on February 10, which stipulates the specificemployment positions that may register for work permits.

Most Vietnamese unskilled workers are working illegally in Thailand,gaining entry to the country as a tourist and remaining to work withoutlicenses or agreements with employers.

However,under the resolution, home servants and unskilled persons working inconstruction, fisheries, and restaurants will be granted work permits.

Registration dates have not yet been released,but the relevant Thai offices have been assigned tasks. Specifically,the Ministry of Home Affairs will receive and manage the files ofVietnamese workers while the Ministry of Labour will receive employers’recruitment registration and consider work permit licenses. The Ministryof Health will be in charge of providing health insurance for workers,and the Police will inspect the entire process.

Making work permits available for Vietnamese guest workers in Thailandwas agreed on by the countries’ Prime Ministers in Hanoi during November2014. Relevant ministries and offices are expected to sign a memorandumof understanding on labour cooperation to facilitate the agreement.

Labour centres eligible for work permit licenseregistration and granting are located in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Rayong,Nakhon Phanom and Songkhla provinces.-VNA