Last week, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha returned from Riyadh with big news for workers -- Saudi Arabia has high demand for labour, and eight million jobs are now up for grabs.
Labour cooperation was among the top agenda items as the two countries fully restored diplomatic ties after more than three decades following the Blue Diamond affair and the unresolved murders of Saudi diplomats and a businessman with close ties to the House of Saud, one of the world's richest families, back in the 1980s. The cases upset Riyadh so much so that it gave Thailand the cold shoulder despite its need for labour.
At its peak, the Saudi labour market took in around 300,000 workers from Thailand, which contributed to the country's rapid infrastructure development. Labour brokerage businesses boomed, though many were run by scammers intent on exploiting the poor seeking a new life in a foreign land.
When relations strained, Thai workers were unwelcome in Saudi Arabia, and their numbers plunged to around 1,300 as of late. Filling the demand were workers from South Asia, particularly India and Pakistan, many of whom adjusted better to the Saudi way of life, thanks to their shared religious beliefs.
To some, the renewed ties represent a fresh opportunity for Thai workers. Gen Prayut, as well as Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin, seized on Riyadh assurances enthusiastically, with the PM ordering labour officials to implement the deal in two months.
Gen Prayut wants the labour cooperation deal carried out quickly to ensure workers can contribute to Saudi Vision 2030, Riyadh's strategic framework for economic and social development.
But is it realistic to have the same rosy picture of Saudi Arabia as a labour goldmine after more than 30 years? Probably not.
It should be noted that the past decades have seen new labour markets welcome Thai workers, for example, Taiwan, Israel, Japan and South Korea, with better salaries and benefits, compared to Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries. For instance, Thai workers can expect to earn more than 50,000 baht a month in Israel and South Korea, or around 30,000 baht in Taiwan. Meanwhile in Japan, the minimum wage is 270 baht per hour.
Meanwhile, according to the Department of Employment's figures, an unskilled worker can expect to take home around US$500 (around 16,700 baht) per month, whereas a skilled worker can earn around $600-800 a month.
Last but not least, many Thais, who are predominantly non-Muslims, find it difficult to adjust to living conditions in Saudi Arabia.
The overzealous effort by labour authorities to promote Saudi Arabia as a working destination can end up creating false hopes and expectations among poor villagers, who could easily fall victim to nefarious labour rings. Many have had to sell their land and other assets and/or fallen into debt to cover travel expenses and agency fees.
We need to re-examine our labour situation, which has changed in the past 30 years. There are big flaws in the state's labour management system which need to be urgently addressed.
For instance, labour development centres in many provinces lack a strategy to improve their workers' standards. As a result, the government's plan to up-skill and re-skill the nation's labourers rarely materialise.
With more youths graduating with university degrees, there is actually a shortage of unskilled labourers in certain fields, and workers from Cambodia and Myanmar are filling the gap.
The uprising in Myanmar after the Feb 1, 2021 coup by Tatmadaw have also sent more workers crossing the border.
The normalisation of relations between Bangkok and Riyadh will bring opportunities in trade and tourism, but not the labour sector. Some struggling workers may want to take a chance, but they should instead be warned of the realities living in a different culture with low incomes.
More importantly, workers should be made more aware of fraudulent agencies and how to better protect themselves from scams.
It's important that all concerned in labour affairs be realistic, and set the record right.
Paskorn Jumlongrach is co-founder of Transbordernews.in.th.