Mr. Pongkawin Jungrungruangkit, Minister of Labour, expressed concern regarding the recent severe weather that caused flash floods, forest runoff, and landslides across several provinces in northern and northeastern Thailand, as well as other affected regions. In response to the crisis, he has instructed all provincial labour offices under the Ministry of Labour to urgently coordinate relief efforts and closely monitor the situation, especially in areas with significant flooding in residential zones. The Ministry of Labour has deployed officials to affected areas to meet with employers, assess the impact on workers and businesses, and offer support where workers may face income loss or businesses are unable to operate. Mr. Pongkawin has directed the Permanent Secretary of Labour to assign staff to take immediate action, including sending repair teams from the Department of Skill Development to assist in repairing damaged equipment, homes, motorcycles, and electrical appliances in areas where conditions have begun to improve. He has also emphasized the importance of maintaining 24-hour readiness to respond to ongoing heavy rain and provide immediate assistance to mitigate hardship and minimize the impact on the public.
Mr. Boonsong Thapchaiyut, Permanent Secretary of Labour, added that he has instructed all relevant agencies to safeguard the rights and entitlements of workers who are unable to work due to flooding of their homes or workplaces. Authorities are also collecting data on affected workers in order to provide assistance and protection under the law. He explained that under current regulations, employees covered by social security who are temporarily out of work due to force majeure, such as natural disasters, are eligible for unemployment benefits. Workers who are unable to perform their duties due to flooding are not considered to have abandoned their jobs. In cases of dismissal, employers are required to pay compensation to the employee. Workers who must temporarily stop working are still entitled to wages and legal benefits, and those who fall ill due to the flooding can still use their social security entitlements. Once the situation improves, the Ministry of Labour will continue to deploy skilled technicians to assist with repairs across affected areas. Employers, employees, or anyone affected by the floods may request assistance by calling the Ministry of Labour hotline at 1506.
