Japan alters Thai chefs’ required qualifications

BANGKOK, August 9 (TNA) - Japan has revised its qualification requirement for Thai chefs, from at least 10-year experiences each to five-year experiences each, widening an employment opportunity for Thai cuisiners. Labour Ministry Spokesman Teerapol Khunmuang told journalists of the update on Tuesday, noting that Thai chefs who want to work in Japan need to, however, pass a national skill standard test there. The spokesman said that all relevant agencies in his ministry, particularly the Department of Employment and the Department of Skill Development, have been assigned to work together integratedly to support and facilitate Thai chefs who work overseas, including Japan, to be in line with a policy given by Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha, aimed at promoting Thai cuisine to the world. The spokesman acknowledged that top 10 employment destinations for Thai chefs now include Japan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Singapore, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, South Korea, Israel, Germany, Malaysia and Sweden. The spokesman stated that in 2015 alone, employment contracts of 110 Thai chefs were approved by Japan's Office of Labour Affairs and a total of 86 Thai chefs had already been hired in the Japanese economy from October 2015 to June 2016. According to the spokesman, there are some 700 Thai restaurants in Japan and Thai chefs are still in high demand with offered salaries ranging from 150,000 to 210,000 yen monthly. (TNA)