The Labour Minister’s Assistant commenced the project to build a network to protect informal workers in the aging society in Chonburi. The project encourages elderly workers to form a network and coordinate to exchange knowledge and information to strengthen access rights and ensure understanding of relevant laws is covered thoroughly and fairly.
On December 24, 2020, at 09.00 hours, Assistant to the Labour Minister Mr. Surachai Chaitrakulthong chaired the project to create a network to protect informal workers in the aging society. The project aims to enable elderly workers to enter the aging society and reflects on the importance of government agencies in promoting and encouraging elderly workers to form a network. Such networks facilitate the exchange of knowledge and information to strengthen access rights and ensure understanding of relevant laws are covered thoroughly and fairly in preparation to become a valuable elderly society. The event took place at the Novotel Marina Sriracha and Koh Si Chang Hotel, Sriracha District, Chonburi. The Department of Labour Protection and Welfare’s Deputy Director-General Mrs. Udomlak Sonsarn, gave a report. Most of the elderly are self-employed, intending to supplement income or work as hobbies, careers, or less strenuous activity, not working full-time. Such workers are not protected by law and have no social security. Moreover, most informal workers lack a proper understanding of labour laws, occupational safety, health and environment laws, and relevant legislation. This training includes informal workers, elderly groups (60 years and over) in Chonburi Province, whereby 110 people attended the training. The project’s duration is two days, which will benefit the trainees in their occupation and life, promoting group relationship activities to build relationships with the elderly to create and form networks.
Mr. Surachai said that the Ministry of Labour’s Department of Labour Protection and Welfare’s main mission is to protect employers and employees, including formal and informal workers, to have a good quality of life. It aims to promote employment conditions and a safe working environment, giving importance to the aging workforce on an increasing trend. Therefore, the training was conducted today to provide informal workers who are the elderly the knowledge and understanding of informal workers’ protection. The participants are informed of important labour situations, including the rights to protect workers thoroughly and fairly without being taken advantage of by employers. The training had lectures on various topics that benefit the elderly. There is also a group relationship activity for the elderly to get to know each other, build relationships, and exchange experiences with each other, promoting a network for them to help each other become valuable elderly groups in society.
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Division of Public Relations
24 December 2020
