Deputy Labour Minister Prof. Narumol Pinyosinwat went North, to visit Nan and Phrae provinces, to listen to the troubles of workers and employers in the area, ready to drive the Ministry of Labour’s mission of helping people in full force
On August 21, 2020, Deputy Labour Minister Prof. Narumon Pinyosinwat, Assistant Secretariat to the Labour Minister Mr. Parkin Sommitthanakul and the Ministry of Labour’s executives visited Nan, where the Deputy Governor of Nan Province and the faculty gave a welcoming.
The first point of the visit, the committee met and give workers of encouragement to the people, along with a donation of 330 sets of survival bags to those affected by the Sin Lagoon Storm at Sanian Administrative Organization, Mueang Nan, Nan.
From there, the Labour Minister and committee listened to the direction on driving the national strategy and guidelines to drive Thailand forward by Nan province. The also listened to the situation of the Covid-19 Outbreak, prevention and preparedness measures in the event of an outbreak, including measures and plans for the remedy and rehabilitation project for affected persons in the province. The occasion took place at the Phra Chao Suriyaphong Pharidet Meeting Room at Nan City Hall
The visiting committee listed to the labour situation in Nan, and operational results from agencies under the Ministry of Labour in Nan, especially on workers affected by the Covid-19 epidemic, the need for foreign workers and the preparation for bringing Lao migrant workers into Thailand.
Prof. Narumon said that the aim of this visit was to strengthen the work in the area. Furthermore, to establish cooperation with all sectors of the agency under the Ministry of Labour to drive the national development strategy effectively and explore obstacles in provincial development, as well as issues that the province needs support in from the government. The findings would be compiled and presented at the next Cabinet meeting.
Nan has a population of 477,882 people, comprising 246,370 people at the working age. A total of 242,176 people was employed, and 813 people unemployed, with 3,381 waiting for the reason. Data on insured employees showed 45,842 (15,616 people under Section 33, 23,793 people under Section 40 and 6,433 people under Section 39). There were 186,634 informal workers, of which Nan has 1,670 establishments. The province was one without any Covid-19 infection. However, workers and establishments were still affected. There were 317 closed businesses and 1,981 employees were affected. Most of them were shops in department stores, followed by hotels. There were two temporary closures of businesses under Section 75 of the Labour Protection Act through the Department of Labor Protection and Welfare.
As for the performance on skill development under the policy framework for the economic and social rehabilitation of the country a labour skill development program was proposed to support the Covid-19 situation. The program would take for as a vocational training activity for the unemployed and those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, targeting 520 people. The project is currently waiting for budget approval. To alleviate the burden, Nan Provincial Skill Development Office has adjusted its training goals by using the regular budget to carry out training for 12 batches, totaling 244 people. There is also skill training for the elderly and soldiers before being discharged from service. For foreign workers, there are companies wanting to hire a total of 51 foreign workers with measures to prevent and prepare the movement for Lao migrant workers to work in Thailand already underway. Nan province requires a 14-day detention prior to issuing a work permit, with screening measures starting from immigration.
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Division of Public Relations
21 August 2020
