Today (16 January 2017) the Ministry of Labour’s Inspector General and spokesperson Mr. Ananchai Uthaipattanacheep gave an announcement that the ministry’s meeting had approved measures to help flood victims after the floods subside. Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha directed all units to gather support to help flood victims in the 12 Southern provinces. Labour Minister General Sirichai Distakul has monitored the situation and gathered information about the 42,330 businesses and 1,094,360 staff in the 12 provinces, where a total of 8,753 businesses and 127,018 staff have been affected (information as of 15 January 2017).
Mr. Ananchai continued to explain the alleviation measures comprising: 1) Electronic appliance, air conditioning, motorcycle and agricultural equipment repair for free by a team of technicians at provincial skills development centers/institutes 2) Training for workers and the general public on electronic appliance repair and maintenance of household objects such as bricklaying, plastering and tile laying courses over 3-5 days. Participants will also receive compensation of 100 Baht daily 3) Emergency employment focusing on restoration of households and communities with post-flooding assistance. A compensation of 150 Baht will be provided to participants for every 4 hours of work; ninety million Baht has been allocated for this project 4) On 11 January 2017 the Social Security committee concurred for employers and employees to contribute 3 percent from the original 5 percent, for a duration of 3 months (January – March 2017). As for insurers under section 39 which have left but still remain in the system will only need to contribute 288 Baht. In addition to this, the time period for payment has also been extended without a fine imposed for those unable to pay on time. A ministerial law is under the approval process which will permit compensation in the event of business closure in unforeseeable circumstances, paying 50 percent of the salary to a maximum of 180 days 5) Provision of loans for company restoration at no more than 2 million Baht with an interest of 2 percent per annum, paid in installments over 5 years 6) Check of workplace safety before companies reopen 7) Measures on surveying impacts and professional demands which will be done by a mobile unit in affected areas to organize short-term training to promote self-sufficiency.
Businesses, workers and the general public can request assistance from all affiliated units including provincial labour offices, provincial employment offices, provincial offices for labour protection and welfare, provincial skills development centers and all provincial social security offices. For more detail, contact the Department of Employment’s 1694 hotline, the Social Security Office’s 1506 hotline and the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare’s 1546 hotline.
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Spokesperson and Publication Sub-Division/
Bureau of Public Relations/
Chaninthorn Phettab – News/
Sompob Silbut – Photos/
16 January 2017
