On August 31, 2021, a group of labour leaders led by President of the Thai Taxi Association, Mr. Witoon Naewpanich, President of the Thai Restaurant Association, Khun Thaniwan Kulmongkol, and President of the Motorcycle Taxi Association of Thailand, Mr. Chalerm Changthongmadan, led a group of motorcycle taxi drivers to submit a letter of thanks and encouragement to Prime Minister and Minister of Defense General Prayuth Chan-ocha, and Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan. The Prime Minister had assigned Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin to receive the letter from the group of labour leaders on his behalf at the Parliament Building (Kiakkai).
President of the Thai Taxi Association, Mr. Witoon Naewpanich, said that today, members of the Thai Taxi Association traveled to submit a letter to support Prime Minister and Minister of Defense General Prayuth Chan-ocha, Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan and Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin. They allowed taxi drivers to apply as Section 40 insured persons as a way for the government to pay remedies of 5,000 Baht per month. The members also received the rice, dry foods, and drinking water, arranged in over 6,000 survival bags for the taxi drivers. Other measures are in the process with the relevant departments in the no-confidence debate by the opposition party.
President of the Thai Restaurant Association, Mrs. Thaniwan Kulmongkol, said that during the COVID-19 pandemic since the beginning of 2020, the government has issued measures to control the situation through lockdowns, causing businesses to temporarily suspend operations. Restaurants have been continuously affected until now. However, with the concern of the Prime Minister including the working group of Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin, and the Department of Employment that cares about people, workers, and restaurant businesses, compensation was provided in the case of unemployment due to force majeure at 50 percent of wages. The working group also launched the “sharing kindness from shops to workers,” whereby the association prepared food boxes for campsite workers, supporting restaurants to have enough income, including the employees and their families. Today, the Thai Restaurant Association as a representative of the restaurant group, thanks the Prime Minister for his concern and all working groups who sacrifice their physical strength, heart, and time to provide full support and assistance. This project is not just for every part to have an income and food to eat but to help the people continue to survive and overcome the crisis.
In addition, there was another group of motorcycle taxi drivers, led by the President of the Motorcycle Taxi Association of Thailand, Mr. Chalerm Changthongmadan, who came to support the government led by the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister Gen. Prawit, and Labour Minister Mr. Suchart, for seeing the importance of motorcycle taxi drivers and allowing them to apply as Section 40 insured persons and receive a compensation of 5,000 Baht each. The government also distributed 1,200 survival bags and 15,000 chicken eggs to alleviate the families of motorcycle taxi drivers affected by COVID-19.
Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin said that he was commissioned by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense General Prayuth Chan-ocha to personally receive the letter of thanks from the labour and workers who visited to support the Prime Minister. He said that the Prime Minister himself and Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, who supervises the Ministry of Labour, has given great concern to the workforce, continuing to monitor the impact of the COVID-19 situation on the economy and the well-being of the people. He ordered all ministries to work together and sent his care and concern to all workers and groups, instructing the Labour Minister to help heal and care for the workforce thoroughly so that the labour sector and businesses can continue to walk together without leaving anyone behind. The efforts aim to help the nation overcome the COVID-19 crisis together.
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Division of Public Relations
31 August 2021
