The polarised forces of competition and cooperation are driving the new era of globalisation. Nations, including Thailand, are being challenged to improve their performance as well as regulations to keep pace with new political developments and advances in technology.
New demands and standards in the field of labour and human resources are among the challenges and complexities facing any nation, including Thailand. How do we deal effectively with the management of talent in this new era of globalisation?
As the country has embarked on the path to transform its economic model into one that is value-based and innovation-driven -- known as Thailand 4.0 -- we have seen a number of major reforms aimed at driving the country towards this goal. One priority has been the legal framework for the development of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). Within the EEC, the government aims to promote, among other things, innovation, complex manufacturing technologies, and the development of a highly skilled workforce.
Major investments are expected to flood into the promoted areas of the EEC given its strategic location spanning Chachoengsao, Chon Buri and Rayong provinces. Authorities are promoting a highly integrated transport and logistics network, and most importantly a series of generous incentives including tax breaks. The EEC moved one step closer to becoming a reality when the National Legislative Assembly approved the draft EEC legislation last month.
Critical to the success of this transformation will be the availability of qualified workers to meet the demands of the targeted industries in the EEC. These industries include: next-generation automotive, smart electronics, affluent medical and wellness tourism, food for the future, agriculture and biotechnology, automation and robotics, digital applications, aviation and logistics, biofuels and biochemicals, and a medical hub.
One concrete sign of the government's effort to address the current skills gap and ensure a pool of skilled human resources is the introduction of the Smart Visa programme to attract talent to the country. This new type of visa is designed expressly for foreign experts, executives, entrepreneurs and investors in the above "S-curve" industries. They and their dependents are being offered an opportunity to be able to enter, stay and work in Thailand under a visa that is far superior to anything that has been offered before.
Qualified foreign experts, executives, entrepreneurs and investors will no longer have to go through the long and tedious process of applying for non-immigrant B visas to enter the country, work permits to be able to work, and lastly the permit-to-stay to be able to reside in the country longer than the initial 90 days under the non-immigrant B visa.
Under the Smart Visa programme, an initial application can be made to a Thai embassy or consulate abroad, or to the One Stop Service Centre for visas and work permits in Bangkok. Once the designated government agencies verify that the foreign applicant has the required qualifications, he or she will receive a letter of qualification and endorsement, which is then used to apply for the Smart Visa.
The Smart Visa allows foreigners and their dependents to stay in Thailand for up to four years. They can start working in the country as soon as they receive their visa and throughout its validity period, without having to separately obtain work permits from the Labour Ministry.
This demonstrates the seriousness of the government about responding to the demands of the new economy. In the past, it has always been a requirement for foreigners to obtain work permits from the Labour Ministry before they can start working in the country, even when the employers of these foreigners have Board of Investment privileges. The time lag between obtaining a visa and obtaining a work permit used to be several weeks or even months, but processing times have improved significantly.
In the long run, if a country wants to have a sustainable pool of qualified workers, flexibility in sourcing foreign talent needs to go hand in hand with development of local workers with the necessary skills and expertise aligned with the demands from high-tech industries and the new economy. Laws and regulations need to keep pace with new demand for talent and new staffing models as a result of globalisation, advances in technology and the rise of non-standard employment in the modern economy. The Smart Visa is a worthwhile recognition of this fact.