On August 19, 2021, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin reported that Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, who supervises the Ministry of Labour, joined a meeting yesterday (August 18, 2021) to follow up on the Ministry of Labour’s performance over the past year. He said that General Prawit has concerns for those affected by COVID-19 and ordered the Ministry of Labour to expedite the distribution of vaccines to at-risk workers, especially in the dark red areas, to meet the goals set by the government, making COVID-19 vaccinations a national agenda and providing comprehensive care for workers in all dimensions. General Prawit also emphasized the work on the following important issues: 1) Vaccination administration to accelerate the immunization among workers, especially in the dark red areas, and speed up vaccinations for workers camps to meet the specified goals. 2) Remedies for those affected by the lockdown measures in 29 dark red provinces, including employers and insured persons under Sections 33, 39, and 40, to proceed according to the respective timelines to help those affected. 3) Create awareness and publicize among the workforce to take preventative action and care for themselves from COVID-19, including the Ministry of Labour’s personnel. 4) The Factory Sandbox project to provide comprehensive management by surveying the willingness of the establishments in comprehensive screening. And if an infected person is found, urgent care and assistance are required promptly following public health measures. 5) Foreign workers shall be supervised and managed concerning work to strictly comply with the laws and public health measures. 6) Strictly raise the level of prevention and resolution of human trafficking to meet international standards and the International Labour Organization’s standards. Government officials must be closely supervised to prevent any involvement in human trafficking. If any wrongdoing is found, decisive action must be taken from both disciplinary and criminal standpoints. 7) Upgrading skilled workers online to stay relevant in the COVID-19 situation, focusing on developing digital skills, such as producing advertising materials and short films with smartphones, including techniques for creating an online store and selling online.
“As the Labour Minister, I have assigned agencies under the Ministry of Labour to work together and drive measures to in all dimensions, helping both employers and insured persons under Section 33, 39, and 40 affected by COVID-19. I have also asked for the organization of foreign workers, emphasizing the prevention of human trafficking through enforcement of the law, and preventing government officials’ interference, to jointly develop the country to overcome this situation together,” concluded Mr. Suchart.
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Division of Public Relations
19 August 2021
