Thai workers registered under South Korea's Employment Permit System should take up basic Korean language to give them an advantage over other foreign workers in the labour market, says the South Korean Embassy in Bangkok.
The advice, the embassy said, applies both to workers who are already in South Korea, as well as those who have yet to leave Thailand.
Minister and Consul-General for the Korean Embassy in Bangkok, Tae Wuk Ha, said the government is welcoming back foreign workers registered under its EPS after the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the programme.
As one of the top six contributors of foreign workers through the EPS, Thailand should prepare its workers for the standardised Korean language skills test that migrants under certain visas will now be required to take, he said.
The Test of Proficiency in Korean (EPS-TOPIK) measures the workers' basic Korean language skills and assesses their understanding of the host country's culture and foreign employment system, which the workers must pass to be allowed to work.
The computer-based test was conceived to ensure the convenience and safety of prospective workers amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Seoul had planned to require some 10,000 workers it will allow in this year to take the test, but it decided to roll out the test once the pandemic improves, he said.
The diplomat urged Thai workers who are planning to work in South Korea, as well as those who are already in the country, to pick up basic Korean, saying it will give them more security in the labour market.
"Some workers with limited Korean language skills have ended up as illegal migrants after seeking advice from brokers who took advantage of their inability to communicate," he said.
"Many others have had to endure daily inconveniences because they can't speak [the language]."
Mr Tae warned that irresponsible parties claiming to be "test brokers" may ask workers for payments in exchange for answers to the EPS-TOPIK.
"The tests are conducted securely and under strict supervision, so it is impossible for anyone to know the questions and answers in advance," he said.
"I hope that all Thai workers will improve their competencies further during their employment in Korea, so the EPS programme can continue to foster the ties between Thailand and Korea in the labour field."
He also urged Thai workers to be aware of local labour regulations and ensure compliance.