The Deputy Labour Minister commenced a seminar to promote occupations for people with disabilities amid the COVID-19 situation under the concept of “create, elevate and give; uniting Thailand to build a nation,” in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
On August 13, 2021, Deputy Labour Minister Prof. Narumon Pinyosinwat presided over the opening of the 2021 International Seminar on Employment Rights of Persons with Disabilities in a Crisis of COVID-19 Pandemic, organized by the Eden Social Welfare Foundation in collaboration with Workability Asia and the Redemptorist Foundation for People with Disabilities. She said that the COVID-19 pandemic had affected workers around the world, especially workers with disabilities. Thailand has over 2 million people with disabilities, of which around 87,000 people are workers, but only one-fourth are employed. The government has worked hard to help these people, such as promoting employment and helping to find jobs that create value for people with disabilities. Today, many people with disabilities have not yet developed the skills they need to work, and some people lack the equipment to support their work or lack sources of capital to start their own business. Therefore, supporting people with disabilities to have sufficient skills training and promoting suitable skills will create a better life for this group of people.
The Deputy Labour Minister added that Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is one of the policies that the Thai government has tried to drive. One of the important things is to provide chances for all people, including people with disabilities, to have career opportunities, sustainable income, and a better quality of life. The implementation of the Subcommittee on Skill Development for Persons with Disabilities to Support Occupation in preparing the Action Plan on Skill Development for Persons with Disabilities to Support Occupation emphasizes skills development for people with disabilities in both occupational and digital aspects. It aims to promote the occupation and employment of people with disabilities and the development of people with disabilities through skill competitions. The Ministry of Labour has supported people with disabilities in 3 areas, including “increase employment, create arrangements and reduce payments” for a better future. The effort cooperates with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to encourage all sectors, especially the market sector. It initiated the establishment of the Social Impact Fund to raise funds from both domestic and international sources to improve the quality of life of the disabled.
“Thank you, Eden Social Welfare Foundation, Workability Asia, and the Redemptorist Foundation for People with Disabilities, who have jointly organized this international seminar to create an integration, direction, and process of stimulating the promotion of occupations with disabilities in the current situation. The involvement of all sectors will help people with disabilities to participate in society equally, to be a part of sustainable employment and self-employment. This will lead to a stable income and a better quality of life,” said the Deputy Labour Minister.
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Division of Public Relations
13 August 2021
