Thailand has approved a new labour cooperation agreement with Japan that promises stronger legal protections, equal workplace rights, and greater career mobility for Thai workers seeking employment in the country.
The Thai Cabinet has endorsed a draft Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) on Japan’s upcoming Employment for Skill Development (ESD) programme, paving the way for Thai workers to enter Japan under a revamped labour framework set to take effect on April 1, 2027.
Deputy government spokesperson Patdarasm Thongsaluaykorn said the Cabinet also authorised the permanent secretary for labour and the director-general of the Department of Employment to sign the agreement with relevant Japanese authorities.
New pathway to skills development
The ESD programme is part of Japan’s broader effort to reform its foreign labour system and address chronic workforce shortages across key industries.
Under the new framework, Thai workers will be able to gain occupational skills through three years of work experience in Japan. The programme is designed to help participants develop competencies equivalent to Japan’s Specified Skilled Worker No. 1 level, creating a clearer pathway to higher-skilled employment opportunities.
Thai authorities said the initiative would not only expand overseas job opportunities but also enable workers to bring valuable skills and experience back to Thailand upon completing the programme.
Equal protection under Japanese law
A central feature of the agreement is the commitment to stronger worker protection.
Thai employees participating in the programme will be entitled to labour rights and workplace safety protections under Japanese law on the same basis as Japanese workers. This includes safeguards against discrimination, unfair treatment, and unsafe working conditions.
The ESD system will also introduce greater flexibility by allowing workers to transfer or change employers under specified conditions, a significant departure from some of the restrictions associated with previous labour schemes.
Japan turns to foreign talent amid labour shortages
The agreement comes as Japan increasingly relies on foreign workers to offset labour shortages driven by its ageing population and declining workforce.
Japan’s foreign workforce reached 2.57 million in 2025, surpassing the 2.5 million mark for the first time. The new ESD programme is expected to accommodate up to 426,200 workers during its first two years.
Labour shortages have become particularly acute in sectors such as food services, where authorities recently suspended new approvals under the Specified Skilled Worker Type 1 programme after nearing the sector’s cap of 50,000 workers. The move disrupted recruitment plans for restaurant operators already struggling to fill vacancies.
Five-year agreement with automatic renewal
According to the Thai government, the MOC will remain in force for five years and will be automatically renewed for successive five-year terms unless either party decides otherwise.
Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that the agreement does not qualify as a treaty under Section 178 of the Constitution, allowing it to proceed without parliamentary approval.
Thai authorities, together with the Thai Embassy in Japan, are also expected to support workers and their families throughout the programme and facilitate their return to Thailand upon completion.
Replacing a criticised labour system
Japan’s ESD programme is set to replace the country’s long-running Technical Intern Training Programme, which has faced criticism over worker rights and exploitation concerns.
The new model aims to strengthen protections for foreign workers while offering a more transparent route to skilled-worker status, reflecting Japan’s growing dependence on international talent to sustain its economy in the face of demographic decline.