An agreement has been signed to secure an opportunity for the first 300 Thai vocational students to study in South Korea in a paid study-cum-apprentice programme designed for prospective shipbuilding technicians, the government revealed yesterday.
Under a memorandum of understanding signed on Thursday in Bangkok between the Association of Private Colleges of Technology and Vocational Education of Thailand and Mokpo Science University in South Korea, the Thai students will learn the Korean language in a six-month course and be paid about 50,000 baht a month while studying towards their diplomas, said deputy government spokeswoman Tipanan Sirichana.
Upon graduation, the students can start working for contracted companies in South Korea and their visas will be upgraded to work visas, she said. Their estimated starting salary is 80,000 baht a month, she said.
"This is good news from the South Korean labour market, one of a number of countries the government is currently supporting Thai workers to go to work legally in," she said.
South Korea is a popular destination among Thais seeking overseas employment due to high wages driven by labour shortages there.