Thai Labour Minister Pushes to Expand Thai Construction-Sector Jobs in South Korea
Prepares MOU with South Korea’s Specialty Contractors Association to Open Pathways for Skilled Trades and Site Managers
The Ministry of Labour, under the leadership of Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labour, has taken another step toward opening the South Korean construction market to Thai workers. The Minister held formal talks with the Specialty Contractors Association of the Republic of Korea, a large organization representing over 56,000 member companies nationwide. Accompanying him were Mr. Boonsong Thapchaiyut, Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Somchai Morakotsriwan, Director-General of the Department of Employment, the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Skills Development, and other senior officials from the Ministry of Labour.
Mr. Yun Hak‑Soo, President of the Association, greeted Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labour, and the delegation. He praised Thai workers for their high quality, diligence, positive attitude, and adaptability. Such workers are in great demand as South Korea’s rapidly aging society and dwindling interest among young Koreans have left the construction sector short‑staffed.
In the discussions, Mr. Phiphat underscored Thailand’s readiness to supply qualified construction workers in trades South Korea urgently needs, such as rebar workers, welders, carpenters, and site supervisors/foremen. He said that the Ministry of Labour can provide end‑to‑end support: targeted training, skills testing, and deployment through legal channels, ensuring Thai workers receive fair pay and stable living conditions abroad.
During the talks, the Specialty Contractors Association of South Korea noted current daily wage rates for construction workers of approximately 276,000 KRW/day (approximately 7.2 million KRW/month). Wages are even higher for skilled workers, such as welders, at approximately 300,000 KRW/day, and carpenters at 250,000 KRW/day. Meanwhile, South Korea has also expressed interest in recruiting “construction managers” or “fresh graduate engineers” from Thailand to supervise Thai workers on construction sites.
This meeting is considered a foundation for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between agencies in Thailand and the South Korean Contractors Association in the near future. Should the South Korean delegation visit Thailand, the Ministry of Labour will arrange meetings with the Thai Contractors Associations immediately to cement the partnership.
Mr. Boonsong Thapchaiyut, Permanent Secretary of Labour, said that this is a significant opportunity for young Thais with construction skills, language ability, or engineering backgrounds. Working abroad is not a distant possibility, but it can be started with a standardized system. He stressed that all outbound workers will undergo training, skills testing, and certification by the Department of Skill Development to ensure professional standards and comprehensive support from departure to return.
“This is excellent news for Thai construction workers, site supervisors, engineers, and technical professionals seeking high‑income, legal employment overseas. Interested applicants should begin training and skill testing at any Skill Development Institute nationwide and follow updates from the Ministry of Labour’s Department of Employment,” concluded Mr. Boonsong.
Source: https://www.mol.go.th/en/news/labour-minister-pushes-to-expand-thai-construction-sector-jobs-in-south-korea-prepares-mou-with-south-koreas-specialty-contractors-association-to-open-pathways-for-skilled-trades-and-site-managers
