The news comes less than six months before the bilateral relations ratified under the AEC are slated to come into effect at the end of this year.
The key sector to be affected in Phuket is tourism, said a concerned Pitool Dumsakorn, chief of Phuket Provincial Employment Office, in an exclusive interview with The Phuket News.
“The AEC is to provide free flow of skilled labour in eight sectors, of which tourism will have the greatest impact in Phuket,” he said.
The seven other professions that the AEC will allow free flow of skilled labour across Asean borders are: engineering, nursing, architectural services, surveying, accounting services, dental practitioners and the medical profession.
“Thailand and other Asean members have already signed Mutual Recognition Arrangements agreed to facilitate free labour movement among these [seven] career types, and Thailand is going to conclude the agreement on workers in the tourism trade soon,” said Mr Pitool.
Lack of agreement on what would constitute as “fair” under the AEC arrangements has delayed any news of what will be required to hire staff from Asean nations, he explained.
“The official regulations for the eight professions is now in process. They will come as it is under an agreement among all Asean nations, but it will take time to ensure that all Asean countries receive fair benefit [under the terms],” he said.
Until any new rules are announced, prospective employers must abide by the current employment law, Mr Pitool added.
“As Phuket is one of the most popular tourism destinations in Thailand, there are many foreign workers on the island, but all foreign workers must have the correct visa and a work permit in order to work in Phuket.” he said.
“Also, even after the AEC comes into effect, employers and companies in Phuket wanting to hire foreign labourers from AEC countries outside of these eight professions must still make sure the worker obtain the correct visa and a work permit before starting work.”
– Yonlaphat Boonsusakul