The Deputy Labour Minister visited Bueng Kan to promote a quality workforce in the agricultural sector, developing the national economy.
On October 3, 2020, Deputy Labour Minister Prof. Narumon Pinyosinwat and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Capt. Thammanat Prompao visited Bueng Kan to meet farmers and hand over documents of rights for people to take advantage of the land reform area (SorPorKor 4-01). The parties met to discuss problems with farmers. After that, they visited the roaming labour activity and observed five agencies’ public services under the Ministry of Labour in Bueng Kan, including the Ministry of Labour’s public relations and services related to agricultural workers. The occasion took place at the Rubber Plantation Fund Cooperative in Bueng Kan, Tha Saad, Seka, Bueng Kan province.
Prof. Narumon said that according to the government policy led by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha, the Ministry of Labour is responsible for driving the mission to provide Thai workers with employment by enhancing skills to increase career opportunities. Therefore, the Department of Skill Development was assigned to accelerate workforce skills in the nation, under the concept of “Create, elevate and give; uniting Thailand to build a nation.” The efforts continue to build agriculturists into quality workers, upgrading their skills to encompass various skillsets applied in occupations throughout the changing environment. Furthermore, it provides workers with opportunities to access more funding sources. The Ministry of Labour has a mission in providing skill development and welfare protection for both formal and informal workers, especially the agricultural sector, in a push to help with social security benefits. The Ministry of Labour has agencies in every province to serve people thoroughly to access its services. In visiting the area, the Deputy Minister of Labour wanted to hear the problems, obstacles, and suggestions from the public sector. The Ministry of Labour will then be able to assign relevant agencies to undertake an assignment, especially in developing and upgrading the production and processing of rubber and agriculture with technological innovation to meet international standards, for exports to neighboring countries in the Mekong River Basin Development Area of border trade infrastructures and facilities, as well as Mekong River Way of Life Tourism.
The Deputy Labour Minister said that making the Ministry of Labour’s mission help the people become successful requires important mechanisms in the area at the local level. This includes labour volunteers who are representative of the Ministry of Labour in the area. They are voluntary workers for the Ministry of Labour to bring peace to workers, employers, employees, and the general public. The labour volunteers act as a medium of public relations to disseminate information about labour to people in the area and contact and coordinate with various departments to assist workers in distress. She also expressed her appreciation and thanks to all the volunteers.
Roaming labour activities consisted of the roaming labour project to meet people in Bueng Kan and educate 70 labour volunteers and network members to implement the Ministry of Labour’s policies and missions. It also organized services to take reports and complaints, applications, career guidance, and public relations to support new graduates’ employment, the co-payment project called “The Government Supports, the Private Sector Creates.” The Bueng Kan Provincial Employment Office hosted a solar cell demonstration for smart farmers, provided the National Skill Standard Assessment Center label to the N-Tech International Technology College, Bueng Kan. The Bueng Kan Skill Development Office gave advice and took reports about employment conditions from formal and informal workers. The session also advised on occupational safety laws by the Bueng Kan Office of Labour Protection and Welfare. It provided knowledge on benefits to insurers, campaigned to promote applicants and insured persons under Section 40 by the Bueng Kan Social Security Office.
“Yesterday, I had a chance to meet Khun Na, an informal worker after being laid off by the company she worked at. She attended sewing courses with the Department of Skill Development and borrowed 50,000 baht from the Government Savings Bank guaranteed by the Thai Credit Guarantee (TCG) to purchase sewing machines and related materials. Until now, she has been able to create a new career. She makes dresses and sells them for 3,600 Baht. Thus, the program is a guarantee that these workers can start a new life, have a career and sustainable income,” concluded the Deputy Labour Minister.
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Division of Public Relations
3 October 2020
