The government's committee on migrant labour management policy on Thursday reinstated its policy to ban migrant workers from taking up employment as unskilled labourers in Thailand.
Labour Minister Adul Sangsingkeo said that only migrant workers from countries which have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to ease labour shortages in Thailand can work as unskilled labourers in the country.
The decision to allow some migrant workers to work as unskilled labourers is due to the fact that some sectors -- such as construction, animal husbandry, farming, fishery, and garment manufacturing -- have been dogged by serious labour shortages.
Pol Gen Adul, who chaired the committee's meeting, said the panel took the needs of these sectors into account to come up with a list of sectors that will be allowed to employ migrant workers.
"The workers would only be brought in as necessary," he said. "The details will be announced in a Labour Ministry directive, which is likely to be issued in March."
Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam have signed MoUs on migrant workers with Thailand.
Under a 1979 Royal Decree on occupations and professions, foreigners are banned from working in 39 occupations.
Unskilled labour was on the list of prohibited professions for migrant workers.
In June, the committee met to revise the list of jobs which migrant workers were banned from and held a series of forums to gauge opinions on allowing migrant workers to work in 10 occupations reserved for Thai nationals, under certain conditions.
Most of the occupations involve local handicrafts, such as wood carving, hand-woven textiles, lacquerware, musical instrument, Thai dolls, and alms bowls for monks.
Meanwhile, wage increases for skilled workers in 19 professions in four lines of work have been published in the Royal Gazette and will take effect on Jan 1.
The wage hikes cover skilled migrants working in logistics, furniture-making, industrial art, automotive mechanics.
Under the new wage structure, which was announced by permanent secretary for labour, Jarin Chakkaphark, level 3 workers in the jewellery industry are entitled to receive a daily wage of no less than 825 baht. Meanwhile, level 1 seamstresses are entitled to a daily pay of at least 345 baht.
The daily minimum wage for an unskilled worker in Bangkok is 325 baht.