BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand and France are exploring cooperation to expand job opportunities for Thai workers in Europe, with Thai chefs and massage practitioners identified as professions with strong potential. Discussions cover skills development and professional certification to help qualified workers meet international labor market requirements.
Deputy Government Spokesperson Patdarasm Thongsaluaykorn reported on October 6 that Thailand’s Ministry of Labour held talks with France’s Ministry of Labor and Social Solidarity in Paris. The two sides discussed aligning professional skills with market demand and developing recognized occupational standards that could provide Thai workers with clearer pathways to employment abroad.
Cooperation could also extend to upskilling, reskilling, and lifelong learning as technology, artificial intelligence, demographic changes, and the green economy reshape workforce needs. Thailand, as chair of the ASEAN Labor Ministers Meeting, is also prepared to pursue wider cooperation between France and ASEAN on skills certification and the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace.
Thai and French officials will continue detailed discussions, with the Royal Thai Embassy in Paris coordinating between relevant parties. The government expects internationally recognized qualifications to help Thai chefs and massage practitioners access employment opportunities, earn income, and gain professional experience in the European market. (NNT)
