MOU for Transnational Labours Employment Neoliberalism, Labour Protection and Adjustment of State’s Regulation Strategy

Abstract

This article analyzes the source and context of Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) on employment cooperation between Thailand and two neighboring countries-Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Cambodia. The intention was to go beyond the recent criticism of MOU by others. The article proposes that we should understand the MOU as a new state strategy for the regulation of transnational laborers which occurred amidst the challenge of changes brought about by globalization, expansion of international cooperation, extensive cross-border movement, the influence of neoliberalism, and labor protection discourse. The Thai state’s lack of efficiency in transnational labor management is also included in the study. In the last section, the article takes a postmodern approach to examine MOU to illustrate five structures which compounded the new strategy for regulation of the state, and encourages new questions for MOU implementation.