September 10, 2025, at 13.30 hours – Mr. Pongkawin Jungrungruangkit, Labour Minister, assigned Mr. Samat Pattamasukon, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Labour, to serve as co-chair at the launch of the “Gifted Listeners” project. The ceremony was also co-chaired by Mr. Chokchai Wichianchaiya, Director-General of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, and Dr. Kittisak Aksornwong, Director-General of the Department of Mental Health, who gave an opening speech. The event was held at Eden Zone, 1st Floor, CentralWorld.
Mr. Samat Pattamasukon, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Labour, said that he has always believed that employing persons with disabilities is not merely a legal obligation, but a means of restoring dignity and opportunity for all Thais to stand equally in society. This is at the heart of the Ministry of Labour’s policy: to promote employment that is inclusive, accessible, and fair.
Mr. Samat continued that in the past, the Ministry of Labour has consistently supported the employment of persons with disabilities through various measures, such as promoting employment under Sections 33 and 35 of the Persons with Disabilities Empowerment Act B.E. 2550, providing vocational training suited to individual potential, and fostering cooperation with enterprises to create the right jobs for the right people.
“The Gifted Listeners project represents another crucial step forward, creating opportunities for persons with disabilities to demonstrate their abilities in a new professional role as ‘listeners’. This is not only about employment opportunities, but also about recognising persons with disabilities as a source of encouragement and support for their fellow members of society,”Mr. Samat concluded.
The Gifted Listeners project aims to promote workplace literacy by developing “Gifted Listeners” with disabilities, while supporting sustainable employment, care, and capacity-building for individuals with disabilities. The initiative is a joint effort between the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Labour, and the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.
