On September 27, 2021, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin spoke about the assistance with the flooding in many provinces that occurred from the tropical storm “Dian Mu” from September 23 until now. The storm has resulted in flash floods causing suffering among many people. He said that the government under the leadership of Prime Minister and Minister of Defense General Prayuth Chan-ocha, and Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, who oversees the Ministry of Labour, is concerned for all workers and the general public who have suffered from the flooding. He has instructed all relevant agencies in the area to work together and provide urgent assistance to the people, including moving, evacuating, accelerating drainage, giving things to alleviate suffering, and spreading awareness to the public about the flood situation. Thus, the Labour Minister assigned agencies in each affected province to accelerate the integration of support to workers, insured employees, and the public in the areas who have suffered, especially with the movement of people to safe places and temporary shelters, and supporting the necessary consumer goods to alleviate the troubles.
Mr. Suchart spoke about the Ministry of Labour’s measures to help flood victims. The measures are divided into three phases: 1) The pre-disaster phase. To monitor the situation, affected establishments, and the tendency for layoffs. Prepare and provide technically knowledgeable workers and prepare professional trainers in necessary fields to mobilize all the tools, equipment, manpower, and specialists. Notify and publicize news to establishments through various channels. Develop a support plan and implement the plan. To survey, prepare, procure, and provide the availability of equipment, tools, personnel, and vehicles for assistance, such as creating floating toilets. Inspect establishments ensuring compliance with the workplace safety laws. 2) Disaster period. Prepare a plan to examine the information of workers affected by the disaster to aid and protect following the labour law. Ensure unemployment benefits to insured persons if the employer temporarily suspends services due to force majeure, and 3) The recovery period after the water recedes. To issue announcements requesting cooperation from establishments for employees to take leave from work without being considered a leave or an offense against work regulations. Provide job placement and career promotion services, urgent employment, and skill development projects by supporting compensation, including professional training materials so that people have a continuous income and can continue to survive after the water recedes and wait for recovery. Organize a unit to repair electrical equipment and small engines for agriculture to reduce the public’s expenses where electrical equipment has been damaged. Check the safety of the wires in the house, taking care of benefits for the victims in terms of social security rights and rights under labour protection laws after the flood. Organize a team of doctors and nurses with hospitals in the network to provide primary care services in the affected areas.
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Division of Public Relations
27 September 2021
