Deputy Labour Minister Prof. Narumon Pinyosinwat reported that since coming to work on August 14, 2020, she has worked for a total of 4 months now, as assigned by Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha to help drive the Ministry of Labour’s missions. The Prime Minister’s intentions are raising the level of the Ministry of Labour from a Ministry of Social Affairs to a Ministry of Economy, with Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan supervising the Ministry of Labour. It has missions involving 38.17 million workers in the country, which are the main drivers of the country’s economy. The missions aim for the workforce to have a better life, a career, a stable income and to remain free from poverty. Even in the current situation with the Covid-19 outbreak, it has inevitably affected the Thai workforce. That means a great duty for the Ministry of Labour to help workers get through this crisis. The Deputy Labour Minister is responsible for driving the mission of the Department of Skill Development and the Thailand Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (TOSH), a public organization too promote safety. The two regulators are important agencies to the workforce, providing workers with a good job and a stable income, equipping workers with skills, knowledge and ability to be able to pursue a career.
The Department of Skill Development (DSD) is the heart, as the skills of fresh graduates tend to not meet the needs of employers. We therefore have the duty to adjust and promote skills to meet the needs of employers under the “Create, elevate and give; uniting Thailand to build a nation” concept, in line with the Prime Minister’s policy to unite Thailand to build a nation. The past four months have produced outstanding works. There are many projects that are being driven, such as the creation of accelerated labour skill development in line with labour management in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). The EEC is considered to be a new engine that will drive the Thai economy, together with the Special Economic Development Zone (SEZ) that will promote the economy to grow sustainably. The Ministry of Labour has integrated with network partners and many private sector organizations, such as in digital technology with Huawei Technology (Thailand) Co., Ltd. to train the installation of telecommunication transmission systems in 4G and 5G systems. There are partnerships with Sinopec International Petroleum Service Corporation to develop skilled workers in welding technology, and a center for training in welding to export Thai workers to work in Asia and other regions. People who work with the company will be paid up to 50,000 Baht per month.
In addition, the Ministry of Labour has worked with the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (PAD or ETDA) to train workers with knowledge of e-commerce or the first edition of e-commerce, organizing training for groups of tour guides affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. It has also worked with Cat Buzz to provide digital services through high speed free WiFi networks and with Microsoft (Thailand) Company Limited to develop a digital workforce through online learning.
It has accelerated the upgrading of skills to become a quality workforce (productive labour) in three dimensions including new-skills, re-skills and up-skills. In conjunction with Kluaynamthai Hospital, it has launched elderly care training. The hospital has provided 377 scholarships, valued over 35 million Baht. Those who complete the training are employed immediately. Another work that needs to be mentioned is the meeting to drive the manpower development plan to support the target industries S-curve in 2021 – 2022, chaired by Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan. The meeting considered guidelines for developing a manpower development plan to support target industries. There are several ministries involved in this drive. Therefore, there is a follow up meeting and the establishment of several other sub-working groups, notably the working group to consider establishing the Digital Industry Manpower Development Institute (DIDI) and the medical device industry.
The Deputy Labour Minister also said that she wishes for workers to have more options for occupation, for both formal and informal workers. She also wished for more cooperation from the private sector, especially in helping vulnerable groups. Some efforts are already started and, in the future, it will continue to see various policies to provide people with comprehensive access to public welfare, free from poverty. In early 2021, it should push for civil welfare for workers who lack opportunities.
“Finally, I ask that the people adjust to the changing situation. Covid-19 will not be scary if we adjust our lifestyles, learn and develop ourselves in new ways, with modern technology and live a life in a self-sufficient economy,” the Deputy Labour Minister concluded.
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Division of Public Relations
31 December 2020
