The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on Monday launched the first batch of a training programme for caregivers in a bid to meet the demand in the job market, as Thailand is becoming an ageing society.

Governor Chadchart Sittipunt presided over the opening ceremony at the Din Daeng Vocational Training School. He was accompanied by his deputy, Sanon Wangsrangboon.

The programme is a collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, and the National Research Council of Thailand, who together designed a 420-hour training curriculum for caregivers for senior citizens.

The curriculum includes 210 hours of classroom learning and a 210-hour practical section across nine areas: General knowledge about senior citizens, senior health promotion, senior caregiving, emergency/primary care and patient transfer, common diseases and health problems among seniors, caregiver qualifications, language and computer skills, practical training, and training evaluation.

“This programme will create more career opportunities for Bangkokians as well as satisfy the increasing needs in senior care,” said Chadchart. “BMA’s vocational schools are not only places to learn how to cut hair or make dresses. We will continue offering programmes that cater to market demands.”

Chadchart added that another programme was launched recently to train maids for hospitality businesses, organised in collaboration with experts from 10 leading establishments in the city.

“Qualified hotel maids are highly sought after by hotels as tourists have started coming back to Bangkok after the pandemic,” said Chadchart. “These hotels have lost most of their workforce during the pandemic and are now looking to rebuild their staff again.”

Former hotel workers who hailed from other provinces decided to find other jobs in their hometowns during the pandemic and have not returned to Bangkok since then, he pointed out.

About 30% of graduates from the hotel maid programme have already been hired, according to deputy governor Sanon.

Sanon added that the caregivers for seniors programme had got a warm welcome from city people, receiving more than 200 applications despite the first batch being limited to 40 students.

The BMA is considering expanding available seats in the subsequent batches, he added.