The Labour Minister, Mr. Suchart Chomklin, spoke about the progress of measures to resolve labour shortages in the tourism and service sectors. He explained that tour operators are facing labour shortages due to the rapid recovery of tourism and related businesses. The Prime Minister and Minister of Defense General Prayuth Chan-ocha has given importance and instructed the Ministry of Labour to accelerate the resolution to the issue above to drive the economy and revitalize the country to accommodate tourists after the COVID-19 situation subsides. On the Ministry of Labour’s part, the Labour Minister has instructed all Provincial Employment Officers to publicize the 3H Project (have a job, have income, and have additional qualifications) to students at grade 6 and vocational certificate level, aged 18 years and over, for their awareness and to participate. The project is a collaboration between the government, private sector, and educational institutes to encourage students who lack funds but want to advance in their careers for better life stability to study in their desired field of study to obtain higher qualifications. Participants can receive support services to work in companies, get paid, and receive various benefits and welfare according to the law. This project was piloted in Chonburi Province in cooperation with Dr. Prasert Klinchu, President of the Association of Private Colleges of Technology and Vocational Education in Thailand and Eastern College (E. Tech), Chonburi Province. It allows students to study online with E. Tech College and work, enabling them to earn an income, gain skills, and have additional qualifications, successfully solving labour shortages in the industrial sector. Therefore, this project has been extended to other tourist provinces, such as Phuket, Rayong, Krabi, Phang Nga, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Bangkok, to solve labour shortages in the tourism and service sectors.
Mr. Suchart continued that the 3H Project (have a job, have income, and have additional qualifications) would benefit all parties. Students participating in the project can get a job, have income, and gain additional qualifications. At the same time, the workplace will have a quality workforce, recruiting qualified workers who can develop the business sustainably, while educational institutions can determine the appropriate educational curriculum to meet the needs of businesses. Therefore, the Ministry of Labour invites educational institutions to join the 3H Project to allow students to participate in on-the-job training in provinces with tourism businesses. The initiative will enhance participants’ skills and allow them to earn an income while studying, together with support for working on an hourly income. which is in line with government policies and the Ministry of Labour, which focuses on people have work, a career, a stable income, and continue to have a good quality of life.
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Division of Public Relations
7 January 2023
