The Deputy Labour Minister highlighted the Skill Development Promotion Act B.E. 2545 and its amendments to promote and support companies to develop skills for over 4 million employees a year to create quality labor and lay the foundation of the country’s economy to be strengthened with intensive training of more than 200 staff, from December 3-4, 2020.
On December 3, 2020, Deputy Labour Minister Prof. Narumon Pinyosinwat said that Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha and Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan assigned important duties to solve the problem of the workforce lacking skills or having them but not meeting the needs of the labour market. However, he said that the Ministry of Labour could not carry out the solution alone; there must be a network of partners from the government sector involved in education and skills development. This includes the private sector’s cooperation to promote and support the resources available under its mission. The Ministry of Labour’s Department of Skill Development (DSD) is a self-regulating agency that plays an important role in developing the workforce to have potential and to support the needs of the workforce both at home and abroad, including changing technology. Therefore, efforts require cooperation from the private sector, operating under the Skill Development Promotion Act B.E. 2545 and its amendments. The Act incentives business operators to be exempt from income tax, as a percentage of the expenditure paid towards training expenses and other relevant benefits.
Prof. Narumon said that there are system improvements to facilitate the company’s ability to apply for skills training benefits through electronic channels (e-Service). After the registrar approves the course, relevant details and training costs are listed. Companies can print a certificate by themselves from October 1, 2020, onwards. The application for certification of courses that the DSD organizes online is in the process of drafting a law, details, inspection procedures, and methods, including online training formats that can be certified. In 2021, the Department of Skill Development aims to promote and encourage workforce skill training following the Workforce Skill Development Promotion Act B.E. 2545 and its amendments, reaching 4 million people.
The Department of Skill Development’s Director-General Mr. Tawat Benchatikul added that between December 3-4, 2020, the DSD had organized a seminar to clarify the implementation guidelines of the Workforce Skill Development Promotion Act B.E. 2545. Participants include Directors of Institutes or Director of the Offices of Skill Development and officials involved, with over 200 people. Participants will understand the guidelines for promoting skill development in 2021. From the spread of the Covid-19 virus, there were alleviation measures that were compulsory, in which companies that submit contributions to the Skill Development Fund for 2020 decreased their contributions from 50 percent of employees to 10 percent of employees. Information as of September 30, 2020, shows that 14,704 target companies need to be advised. Therefore, DSD officials must prepare so that the operations are clear and unified. Therefore, this project was organized to drive the implementation of the Skill Development Promotion.
“Companies that must operate following the Skill Development Promotion Act but still don’t understand the processes can contact agencies under the Department of Skill Development nationwide in 76 provinces or Bangkok. They can also contact the Ministry of Labour’s 1506 hotline and press 4. The cooperation with companies will affect the potential of Thai workers and increase the competitiveness and overall economy,’ said the Deputy Labour Minister.
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Division of Public Relations
3 December 2020
