The Deputy Labour Minister spoke about discussed the protection of women workers and their families, ensuring careers, income, and good quality of life for mothers and children from pre- and post-Covid-19 impacts, to drive the policy for sustainable career development for women.
On September 11, 2020, at 15.00 hours, Deputy Labour Minister Prof. Narumon Pinyosinwat welcomed Member of the House of Representatives Khun Thanikarn Pornphongsaroj, a driver for women policies who leads the civil society network, in a meeting together with Khun Bunthit Panwiset from the Friends for Women Foundation, Khun Promboon Panichpak from the Taks Thai Foundation, Khun Chalerat Sangsuwanfrom the Foundation for Women Protection and network of women in the services area, Ms. Butsayarat Kanchanadit, an independent academic for Thai and migrant workers, Mr. Suchin Rungsang from the informal labour network center, Mr. Banthit Thanachai Setthawut, a labour academic and Assistant Professor Songphan Tantakul from the Chiang Mai University Women’s Wellbeing project. The Ministry of Labour’s executives and relevant officials also attended the Tien Achakul meeting room, 10th floor, Department of Employment.
Deputy Labour Minister Prof. Narumol Pinyosinwat said that the government under the leadership of Prime Minister and Minister of Defense General Prayuth Chan-ocha had established a policy on women’s role to create social equality, a strategy for national development. This includes determining the capacity development model and leadership for women in society, to play a greater role in driving the economy, society, and politics.
The Ministry of Labour’s mission is related to skills development, employment, and protection and supervision of the country’s workforce, including women groups. It has performed in many respects, such as employment promotion and occupation corresponding to the potential and work needs, such as working full-time, temporary or part-time options, to all groups. The Provincial Employment Office and the Bangkok Employment Office Area, 1 – 10, have met with businesses to cooperate to update available vacancies to save the information on the Thaimeengarntum.com platform, with 1,000,000 jobs to provide services to people who want to find work. This is in line with government policy to encourage employment.
The Deputy Labour Minister further said that for the skill development for women workers, the Department of Skill Development has been working continuously throughout 202 on target groups are, which includes women in the informal system, students and the unemployment, in training courses such as using Microsoft Excel’s advanced programs, making arts and crafts, English for work, the creation of Android mobile applications, service excellence and personality development. Since the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the target audience to be those affected by the disease’s spread, There are 26,720 female workers who have been trained, whereby 24,807 have passed training courses. The courses include arts, fabrication, food processing, dressmaking, and online marketing with mobile applications.
In the part of the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare, it has promoted employers to provide appropriate welfare to improve women and their families’ quality of life, such as financial benefits and services like a bonus, grants, life insurance, uniform, accommodation, and transportation. Coverage should extend to the employee’s family, childbirth, child support, child tuition. The Department of Labour Protection and Welfare has also encouraged establishing a childcare center in the workplace, developing knowledge and working potential of women workers, such as promoting education outside of working hours, knowledge through electronic media in the workplace, sports, health checks, and health insurance.
Today, the women’s labour network proposed that the Ministry of Labour consider assistance as follows: First, to help women workers affected by the Covid-19, especially single mothers and women who lost their jobs by supporting the search for work, skills training, and participating in campaigns to help women workers on important occasions. This also includes assisting in women workers working abroad. In this regard, the Deputy Labour Minister said that he coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take over the assistance when the workers returned to Thailand, searching for vacancies and freelance training, in collaboration with various agencies to assist as needed. Women workers’ safety in the workplace should also be promoted, together with issues in using benefits from the social security fund for women, both Thai and foreign workers, such as childbirth, medical treatment, employer compensation, not remitting contributions. Measures should look at how to solve the problem and provide support, solving problems of insecure income among women in the informal and elderly workers groups, and benefits under Section 40, and compensation for lack of income.
“For this discussion, the Ministry of Labour will implement proposals that have been received to assist women workers, both in terms of employment and skills development, to promote career opportunities. The Ministry of Labour will further promote protection to receive various benefits, to be able to survive amid the crisis, with a career, a sustainable income, and a good quality of life. This is a policy that must be moved forward. Please be confident that the Ministry of Labour will provide the best care and assistance to women workers,” concluded the Deputy Labour Minister.
