Thai Govt considers allowing foreigners to work in massage services

Thansettakij•Economy•3d ago

Reader Briefing

The Office of the Public Sector Development Commission is gathering public opinion on allowing foreigners to work in health massage and expanding off-site spa services.

•The Office of the Public Sector Development Commission is reviewing laws to allow foreigners to work in health massage based on a proposal from the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce and Industry of the three private sectors.
•The proposal aims to resolve labor shortages in the health massage business caused by existing prohibitions on foreign workers.
•The government is also considering the legalization and regulation of off-site spa and health massage services.

Overview

•The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce and Industry of the three private sectors, consisting of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Thai Industries, and the Thai Bankers' Association, proposed that laws prohibiting foreigners from working in health massage are obstacles to business.
•The Office of the Public Sector Development Commission, acting as the secretariat for the Sub-committee on Business Facilitation Development, is conducting public hearings on the proposal to allow foreigners to work in health massage.
•The health massage business faces labor shortages because Thai massage is currently a prohibited occupation for foreigners.
•The government will consider reviewing the Ministry of Labour's 2020 notification on prohibited occupations for foreigners to allow foreign workers to perform health massage under specified qualifications and professional standards.
•Allowing foreign workers in health massage is expected to alleviate labor shortages in the health service and tourism sectors and increase employment flexibility.
•The Office of the Public Sector Development Commission is also gathering opinions on adjusting ministerial regulations from 2017 and 2020 to allow off-site spa and health massage services.
•The adjustment for off-site services is intended to reduce unnecessary costs, increase business agility, and provide more service channels for the public.

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Key Entities

Organization

Office of the Public Sector Development Commission(สำนักงานคณะกรรมการพัฒนาระบบราชการ)

The agency conducting public hearings on allowing foreigners to work in massage and expanding spa services.

Joint Standing Committee on Commerce and Industry of the three private sectors(คณะกรรมการร่วมภาคเอกชน 3 สถาบัน)

The body that proposed removing legal obstacles regarding foreign workers in the massage business.

Thai Chamber of Commerce(สภาหอการค้าแห่งประเทศไทย)

One of the three organizations comprising the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce and Industry of the three private sectors.

Federation of Thai Industries(สภาอุตสาหกรรมแห่งประเทศไทย)ℹ️

One of the three organizations comprising the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce and Industry of the three private sectors.

Thai Bankers' Association(สมาคมธนาคารไทย)

One of the three organizations comprising the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce and Industry of the three private sectors.

Sub-committee on Business Facilitation Development(คณะอนุกรรมการด้านการพัฒนาการอำนวยความสะดวกทางธุรกิจ)

The committee for which the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission serves as the secretariat.

Law

Ministry of Labour Notification on Prohibited Occupations for Foreigners 2020(ประกาศกระทรวงแรงงาน เรื่อง กำหนดงานที่ห้ามคนต่างด้าวทำ พ.ศ. 2563)

The regulation that currently prohibits foreigners from performing health massage work.

Ministerial Regulation on Fees and Payment of Fees for Health Establishment Business 2017(กฎกระทรวงกำหนดค่าธรรมเนียมและการชำระค่าธรรมเนียมเกี่ยวกับการประกอบกิจการสถานประกอบการเพื่อสุขภาพ พ.ศ. 2560)

A regulation being considered for adjustment to support off-site spa and health massage services.

Ministerial Regulation on Standards for Premises, Safety, and Service in Health Establishments for Elderly or Dependent Care 2020(กฎกระทรวงกำหนดมาตรฐานด้านสถานที่ ความปลอดภัย และการให้บริการในสถานประกอบการเพื่อสุขภาพประเภทกิจการการดูแลผู้สูงอายุ หรือผู้มีภาวะพึ่งพิง พ.ศ. 2563)

A regulation being considered for adjustment to support off-site spa and health massage services.