Work Decision-Making and Quality of Life of Thai Laborers in the Republic of Korea

Abstract

This article is a qualitative research using in-depth interviews and relevant policy literature. The purpose of this study was to study the factors leading to Thai workers’ decision to work in the Republic of Korea and to study the life experiences of Thai workers who have worked in the Republic of Korea to provide policy recommendations to help manage Thai labor. The informants were Thai workers who had worked in the Republic of Korea and returned to Thailand or Thai workers working in the Republic of Korea both legally and illegally in the category of agriculture and livestock, industrial work, construction work, or service work. The study found that the Republic of Korea is the main target of Thai workers in labor migration. The government of the Republic of Korea accepts foreign workers. Those who want to work in the Republic of Korea apply for jobs through the employment permit system (EPS). There are 3 types of jobs that workers from Thailand can do: agriculture and livestock work, industry work, and construction work, but some people who want to work and cannot pass the exam through the Employment Permit System (EPS) will work illegally through the temporary residence permit (90 days). Illegal work is generally service work (restaurant work, massage work, tour guide work), which is different from that done through the Employment Permission System (EPS) work. These workers are paid between 1,800,000 and 5,000,000 KRW per month depending on the type of job. Welfare Legal workers are protected through labor benefits in accordance with international labor welfare management standards, but illegal workers will not receive any welfare benefits. Taking care of workers, therefore, depends on the employer. The policy recommendations are divided into 3 items: 1) Labor-sending countries and labor-receiving countries enter into agreements and manage work permit systems through private agencies to speed up the procedure, but it would be under the supervision of the state However, if workers have employers before going to work in the Republic of Korea, Korean employers can bring workers to register as legal workers. 2) Increase service occupations because this is a type of work that Koreans do not like to do. 3) Exporting countries are disadvantaged in terms of the labor force at working age and still have to take care of that work in the dependency age (childhood and elderly), and the researcher views that the country of origin should seriously drive the economy and have good governance from leaders so that the people have a positive perspective of their own country and do not need to find work outside of the country.