The Deputy Labour Minister reported the path to enhance inmates’ skills to increase career opportunities and income to support themselves and their families after discharge.
The Deputy Labour Minister Prof. Narumon Pinyosinwat reported that the Ministry of Labour’s Department of Skill Development (DSD) aims to promote and provide career opportunities for those in developing behaviors and habits, to be able to live with others after discharge. The group consists of those in the custody of the Department of Probation and the Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection so that they become good citizens with professional knowledge, which will lead to a career and income to take care of themselves and their families. The participants will also contribute to the skilled workforce for the further economic development of the country.
The Deputy Labour Minister said that the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha, has guidelines for administering the state affairs to develop the country to move forward with stability. It aims to bring about a peaceful Thai society, with unity and generosity, giving Thai people a better life, with a stronger and more competitive Thai economy. As such, the development of workers’ knowledge and skills are not limited to formal, informal, or agriculturist workers only, but it also includes vulnerable groups such as prisoners close to discharge, which should be allowed to develop skills to become new quality workers, and not a burden of society. Skill enhancements start during behavior development in prison. It plays an important role in helping prisoners develop themselves to work independently and normally live in society after discharge.
The Department of Skill Development’s Director-General Mr. Tawat Benchatikul added that in 2020, the DSD has a goal of training inmates and youths in detention centers through training programs for specific target groups to increase career prospects. The program aimed for 1,440 people, where it already has 2,053 attendees. There were 2,552 survey respondents, whereby 306 had jobs, representing 11.99 percent, earning an average of 6,890 Baht per month. The training program includes tile-laying, indoor electrical wiring, and paving concrete, hosted by the Surin Institute for Skill Development; 110 people have passed the training. There is a course on women’s clothing sewing by the Narathiwat Skill Development Institute 25, which has trained 77 people, industrial sewing with a machine (ready-made clothes), and gold jewelry techniques by the Tak Institute for Skill Development, which has trained 73 people for example. These are courses that have helped inmates build careers and have an income after discharge, allowing them to return to society again.
“The various training courses that have been conducted are of great importance to encourage and provide opportunities for those in the process of behavioural development for inmates, as well as those subject to behaviour control in the cases close to discharge, offering the opportunity to return to society with others. In 2021, the DSD will continue to carry on these efforts to benefit such groups of people, which is an important part of the engine driving the nation’s economy forward,” concluded the Deputy Labour Minister.
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Division of Public Relations
6 October 2020
