The minister said the move is aimed at minimising the risk of labour shortages and providing an urgent remedy for businesses, reports the Bangkok Post. The expanded proposal will be fast-tracked to the Cabinet this week, while the ministry is also considering mobilising Thai workers - including conscripts, inmates with good conduct nearing release, and juveniles in correctional facilities - to address immediate gaps.
Illegal workers who are already in the country will be registered so they are formally entered into the system, Mr Pongkawin said.
The Thai Chamber of Commerce has thrown its support behind the government’s labour import plan, stressing that shortages are threatening agriculture, manufacturing, services and overall employment.
Last week, the cabinet approved measures to ease the problem, allowing employers to apply for new work permits on behalf of Cambodian, Laotian and Myanmar workers whose permits expired on Feb 13 and were not renewed, as well as for undocumented migrants who entered the country before the resolution was passed.
The Cabinet also approved a pilot scheme to bring in 10,000 Sri Lankan workers under a two-year contract, extendable by another two years, to offset the loss of Cambodian workers who have already returned home.
Meanwhile, Prof Pongtep Suntikul of Thammasat University warned that Sri Lankans may not meet Thailand’s labour demand profile.
Unlike Cambodians, who generally fill semi-skilled and low-skilled jobs in construction, agriculture, fisheries and services, Sri Lankans are more skilled in hospitality, hotels and personal care sectors, where Thais are still active, said the academic.
“Importing Sri Lankans will not fully replace Cambodian workers and could even compete with Thais in certain roles, given their higher costs and different skill sets from Cambodian workers,” he said.
In the short term, he urged retaining Cambodians already in Thailand, enabling re-entry of those wishing to return, and tightening undocumented migrant registration with the Interior Ministry. He warned of risks from over-reliance on Cambodian, Lao and Myanmar labour, noting recruitment from other nations is difficult.
Long-term, he called for investment in technology to reduce dependence on foreign workers. He stressed Thailand must respect human rights under International Labour Organisation conventions, including the 2014 Forced Labour Protocol.
“Thailand’s strength lies in its comprehensive laws and regulations on migrant labour management. The real challenge is ensuring these mechanisms are implemented rigorously,” he said.