On January 19, 2023, the Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin joined the delegation of the Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, on a government inspection in Ratchaburi Province. They observed development initiatives the community’s economy, cultural tourism, the way of life of the Thai-Yuan community, the moral community, and the way of life of the Khu Bua community. The occasion took place at the Klong Suwan Khiri Temple, Khu Bua Su-district, Mueang Ratchaburi District. They also commenced the Chinese New Year Festival in Ratchaburi Province at the Ratchaburi National Museum, Muang District, Ratchaburi Province. The Ratchaburi Provincial Governor, Mr. Ronnaphop Luangpairoj, heads of government agencies under the Ministry of Labour, labour volunteers from Ratchaburi Province, and related agencies in the area gave a welcome.
Mr. Suchart said that the Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, emphasizes the promotion of community enterprise occupations to create employment at the area level. Therefore, the Ministry of Labour was instructed to make community enterprise groups strong and sustainable so that professional groups from the grassroots level can be further developed into SME entrepreneurs in the future to welcome both Thai and foreign tourists. Ratchaburi Province is one of the important economic and tourism cities of the western region with great potential. Agencies under the Ministry of Labour in the area have worked with relevant agencies and local organizations to promote community enterprise groups, such as occupations that meet the needs of product processing, online marketing promotion, and the introduction of modern technology to use in occupations to reduce costs and increase value. The efforts aim to alleviate professional suffering for informal workers, elderly workers, disabled workers, and vulnerable groups, to have a career and a stable income.
On the same occasion, the Labour Minister led the Prime Minister and the committee to see products and give encouragement to the Ku Bua Weaving Conservation Group. This group is a community enterprise that the Ministry of Labour’s Ratchaburi Provincial Employment Office has supported to increase sales channels through online markets in various platforms via the website www.RatchaburiCareerFair.com to the general public. They have also supported the Chok Khu Bua cloth shop, Ratchaburi, to have a channel for public relations and product sales, to increase income for the community. It is also a conservation of Pha Chok Khu Bua, which is a wisdom cultural heritage and the good things of Ratchaburi that have been inherited from the ancestors. The initiative supports creating jobs and careers and generates income for the Ratchaburi people. In addition, the Labour Minister also met and encouraged labour volunteers at the subdistrict level and a network of labour volunteers from Ratchaburi Province who came to welcome. Labour volunteers are responsible for coordinating the mission of the Ministry of Labour to the area. They sacrifice and devote themselves to the public, working closely with people in the community in leading the missions and coordinating labour services so that people have jobs, skills, occupations, and income, and are protected and have sustainable social security as well.
Ratchaburi Province has a workforce of 472,734 people, of which 469,260 are employed, 3,474 are unemployed, and 185,600 are informal workers. There are 4,991 establishments with 369,662 insured persons. Most employment is in Ban Pong District, which accounted for 28.55 percent. Most of the workforce is in wholesale and retail businesses, the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, the manufacturing sector, public administration, national defense, and compulsory social security. Most of the employment is in manufacturing, sales, and government sectors. There are 62,690 foreign workers, 5,345 employers, and 104 volunteer workers.
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Division of Public Relations
20 January 2023