On August 18, 2021, Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan chaired the meeting to listen to the Ministry of Labour’s performance over the past year. The meeting took place in the form of a video conference, with Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin, Deputy Labour Minister Prof. Narumon Pinyosinwat, Assistant to the Labour Minister Mr. Surachai Chaitrakulthong, Assistant Minister from the Prime Minister’s Office, performing duties at the Ministry of Labour, Mr. Pornsak Charoenprasert, the Ministry of Labour’s Advisor, Mrs. Thiwalrat Angkinan, the Labour Minister’s Secretariat Mr. Suthep Chitayawong, Permanent Secretary of Labour Mr. Suthi Sukosol, and the Ministry of Labour’s executives also joined the meeting, which took place at the Saengsingkaew meeting room, 5th floor, Ministry of Labour. General Prawit said that today was a good opportunity to listen to the Ministry of Labour’s performance, which took place in a video conference, consistent with the current situation and following public health measures. He showed appreciation for the Ministry of Labour in driving the government’s urgent and important policies and providing timely assistance to workers. He expressed his care for the Ministry of Labour’s personnel who have devoted themselves to helping those affected by COVID-19. He thanked the Ministry of Labour for expediting vaccinations to insured persons, especially risk groups, and to continue the efforts in line with the government’s intention, listing COVID-19 vaccinations as a national agenda. General Prawit also emphasized the work on key issues: 1) Vaccination administration to accelerate the immunization among workers, especially in the dark red areas, and speed up vaccinations for workers camps to meet the specified goals. 2) Remedies for those affected by the lockdown measures in 29 dark red provinces, including employers and insured persons under Sections 33, 39, and 40, to proceed according to the respective timelines to help those affected. 3) Create awareness and publicize among the workforce to take preventative action and care for themselves from COVID-19, including the Ministry of Labour’s personnel. 4) The Blue Factory project to provide comprehensive management by surveying the willingness of the establishments in comprehensive screening. And if an infected person is found, urgent care and assistance are required promptly following public health measures. 5) Foreign workers shall be supervised and managed concerning work to strictly comply with the laws and public health measures. 6) Strictly raise the level of prevention and resolution of human trafficking to meet international standards and the International Labour Organization’s standards. Government officials must be closely supervised to prevent any involvement in human trafficking. If any wrongdoing is found, decisive action must be taken from both disciplinary and criminal standpoints. 7) Upgrading skilled workers online to stay relevant in the COVID-19 situation, focusing on developing digital skills, such as producing advertising materials and short films with smartphones, including techniques for creating an online store and selling online.
In today’s meeting, General Prawit also had a video conference with the Provincial Labour Offices and Overseas Labour Offices, spreading words of encouragement for everyone to be safe from COVID-19. He asked that all relevant parties assist workers affected by the situation and drive the Ministry of Labour’s support measures in all dimensions. He asked that everyone work together to develop the country to overcome this crisis together. Before the meeting, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin led representatives of the labour groups, including the President of the Thai Taxi Association, Mr. Witoon Naewpanich, President of the Thai Restaurant Association, Khun Thaniwan Kulmongkol, and Chairman of the Bangkok Street Hawker Club, Ms. Yada Phornpetchrampha, who presented souvenirs and thanked Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, through Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin, on the occasion of supported all three worker groups affected by COVID-19. Then the meeting listened to the report of the Ministry of Labour’s performance in the past year, which has significant achievements such as upgrading skilled workers to be quality workers, whereby training 110,110 people to eventually have jobs, accounting for 69.79 percent, with an average income of 14,152 Baht per month. It promoted jobs and filled vacancies with 1,313,591 people, resulting in an income of 75,728 million Baht. It has worked on labour protection and resolving issues for 16,000 unfairly terminated employees, amounting to 850 million Baht. It has enhanced the enforcement of the law by inspecting establishments to prevent human trafficking in 1,211 locations. From the COVID-19 situation, the Ministry of Labour has followed government policy. Under the supervision of the Deputy Prime Minister, it has remedied workers and insured persons, reducing contributions for over 12 million people and over 480,000 employers. It has provided remedies of 50 percent in cases of force majeure for 198,432 insured persons, launched the Section 33 We Love Each Other project, covering 8,140,000, and provided remedies to employees in 29 dark red provinces proactively screening and providing comprehensive COVID-19 treatment.
General Prawit Wongsuwan praised the Labour Minister, the Ministry of Labour’s executives, and officials for driving government policies to help workers quickly and concretely. He shared encouragement for them to continue working and passed the policy to the Ministry of Labour to help both employers and insured persons under Section 33, 39, and 40 affected by COVID-19, who are still waiting, to ensure that remedies are complete and thorough. He also asked for the organization of foreign workers and emphasized the prevention of human trafficking through enforcement and strict prevention from government officials’ interference.
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Division of Public Relations
18 August 2021
