December 17, 2025 – Pol. Lt. Col. Wannapong Kotcharak, Permanent Secretary of Labour, led a delegation of the Ministry of Labour’s executives to Songkhla Province to inspect the “Repair, Rebuild, and Restore Wellbeing, Creating Jobs” activities organised by the Songkhla Skill Development Institute 12. Attending the visit were Mr. Pichet Thongphan, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Labour, and Acting Sub-Lieutenant Somsak Prommadam, the Ministry of Labour’s Inspector-General. During the visit, the Permanent Secretary encouraged those affected by the southern floods and reaffirmed that the Ministry of Labour stands alongside the people at all times and will not stop working until all workers can return to everyday lives and livelihoods. The visit took place at Wat Khok Saman Khun, Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province.
Pol. Lt. Col. Wannapong Kotcharak, Permanent Secretary of Labour, stated that the “Repair, Rebuild, and Restore Wellbeing, Creating Jobs” initiative originated from the severe flooding in the southern region in November, which caused widespread hardship, particularly for independent workers who suffered immediate losses of work tools and income. The Ministry of Labour recognises this hardship and upholds the principle of never abandoning Thai people in any situation. Accordingly, the Department of Skill Development was instructed to establish “Ministry of Labour Mobile Kitchens” to rapidly deliver meal boxes and cooked food to disaster victims during the critical period. As the situation began to improve, the Ministry of Labour implemented recovery measures by mobilising over 100 volunteer technicians, officials from the Department of Skill Development, and partners to assist affected workers. This was carried out through urgent rehabilitation measures under the “Repair, Rebuild, and Restore Wellbeing” centres across all nine southern provinces, focusing on repairing tools and equipment used for livelihoods to reduce the financial burden on the public. The initiative then progressed to the “Repair, Rebuild, and Restore Wellbeing, Creating Jobs” programme, organised by Songkhla Skill Development Institute 12, which provided opportunities, especially for independent workers, to participate in vocational training courses offered by the Department of Skill Development. These courses aim to enhance skills, expand knowledge, and build pathways to stable employment, enabling workers to return to work quickly, earn income to support their families, and stand firmly on their own again. The resulting “well-being” experienced by workers and their families represents the Ministry’s ultimate goal. All these efforts reflect the Ministry of Labour’s mission to stand alongside the people at all times and to continue working until every worker can resume a normal, secure life with pride in their dignity once again.
Mr. Samat Pattamasukon, Director-General of the Department of Skills Development, added that the activities were held from December 11–17, 2025, at Wat Khok Saman Khun, Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province, and comprised four key components:
- Repair of motorcycles, small engines, and electrical appliances, totaling over 2,000 items, was carried out by volunteer technicians. All participating technicians received 600 Baht per day, creating jobs and income while assisting the public.
- Skills-upgrading training for independent workers in courses such as professional motorcycle mechanics, household electrical appliance repair, and street food preparation. All training was free of charge, with participants receiving a daily allowance of 760 Baht throughout the course.
- Independent workers who completed the training received a certificate from the Department of Skill Development and tools worth 2,000 Baht as start-up capital, enabling them to apply their new skills, generate income, and regain stability.
- Distribution of 600 kilograms of rice to service recipients.
The Ministry of Labour, through the Department of Skill Development, expressed its gratitude to PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited for its substantial cooperation and financial support for this initiative. Appreciation was also extended to volunteer technicians, technicians from the Department of Skill Development, inmates from Songkhla Central Prison, and inmates from Songkhla Special Rehabilitation Institution for jointly assisting those affected by the southern floods. It is hoped that beneficiaries will be able to use the repaired electrical appliances, small agricultural engines, and motorcycles to continue their livelihoods.
