On November 1, 2021, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin traveled to Chumphon Province to visit and listen to the operational problems of the Port In and Port Out Control Center (PIPO) in Pak Nam Subdistrict, Mueang District, Chumphon Province. The Labour Minister’s Advisor, Mrs. Thiwalrat Angkinan, Secretariat to the Labour Minister Mr. Suthep Chitvong, Assistant Minister from the Prime Minister’s Office performing duties for the Ministry of Labour Police Major General Nantachat Supamongkol, the Ministry of Labour’s Spokesperson (on politics), Mrs. Theanrat Nawamawat and the Ministry of Labour’s executives joined the occasion. Deputy Governor of Chumphon Mr. Samrit Kongngern gave a welcoming speech. Mr. Suchart said that the government under the leadership of Prime Minister and Minister of Defense General Prayuth Chan-ocha, and the Ministry of Labour under the supervision of Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, has given importance to driving policies to prevent and solve the problem of human trafficking, by intercepting and suppressing the illegal movement of migrants by land and by water. This is because businesses demand labour, following the economic recovery, which is in line with the government’s policy to open the country. The government has provided support, advice, and help to direct the people’s actions following the prescribed disease control measures by urging all sectors to coordinate with the government, police, and related government agencies. Today, the Labour Minister traveled to meet with employees, employers, and other stakeholders driving the policy. He listened to a briefing from the Port In and Port Out Control Center (PIPO) representatives regarding its operations. He listened to obstacles in the occupation of marine fisheries in the area. The Labour Minister and his delegation inspected one vessel, the Kata Boat Sor Chai Nawee 999, with nine crew members, comprising one Thai and eight people Myanmar. For the Ministry of Labour’s measures to take care of migrant workers, it has launched campaigns to alert employers and employees about the COVID-19 prevention measures. The private sector has cooperated to vaccinate over 90 percent of migrant workers, including ATK checks every time a ship enters and leaves the port.
Mr. Trireuk Muesantad, Deputy President of the Fisheries Association of Thailand, and Mr. Pisan Santiwichya, President of Pak Nam Chumphon Fisheries Association, submitted a letter to the Labour Minister requesting support in solving labour problems in the marine fisheries sector. Businesses that have imported migrant workers would like to hire Thai workers first to solve the problem of labour shortages and to encourage Thai people to have jobs. The shortage of migrant workers is an urgent mission to prepare for the country’s opening in November 2021, as Thailand has delayed the importation of migrant workers since March 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic. As a result, the number of migrant workers is insufficient to meet the high demands of businesses. Many requests have already been solved. Requests that involve multiple agencies will be discussed with relevant parties in more detail to continue managing the work of migrants in each type of business under the COVID-19 situation.
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Division of Public Relations
1 November 2021
