The Deputy Labour Minister has a discussion with Microsoft on creating a digital workforce, aiming to improve the workforce quality by creating new employment opportunities of higher value.
On November 11, 2020, Deputy Labour Minister Prof. Narumon Pinyosinwat discussed cooperation on digital skills development among Thai workers, together with Deputy Managing Director of Microsoft (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Mr. Pawich Chuenjai and team. The Department of Skill Development’s Director-General Mr. Tawat Benchatikul, executives and relevant staff, also joined the meeting at the Amphon Junananon meeting room, 10th floor, Department of Skill Development.
Prof. Narumon said that the government, led by Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha and Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, has assigned the Ministry of Labour to focus on developing a digital workforce, to meet the needs of the labour market. It aims to raise Thai workers’ capacity at all levels, covering both formal and informal workers, including vulnerable workers, to reduce social disparities. It also aims to prepare the development of human resources to support 12 target industries, defined in the national strategic plan, to formulate the Ministry of Labour’s policies under the concept of creating digital skills essential to every industry.
The Deputy Labour Minister added that Microsoft (Thailand) Co., Ltd. aims to help people worldwide develop digital skills, upgrading the workforce quality to create new, higher-value employment opportunities. It compensates for the loss of work that occurs and increases the efficiency of personnel in the organization with modern digital learning courses, educating workers through online learning; this allows workers to meet the needs of reskilling and upskilling workers. The Department of Skill Development can store training courses and analyze data, customizing the look and feel, and determine the field of course content. This can reduce manual processes and allow administrators to provide online training to workers through mobile devices, tablets, and smartphones, and can be renamed from Microsoft to Department of Skill Development (DSD). Courses and content can be added at any time. The cost of the signal rental is approximately 10,000 Baht per month, depending on the number of users.
Mr. Pawit added that the company is pleased to offer Microsoft Community Training Platform and offers 51 Thai language online training courses and over 200 English language courses. The Department of Skill Development can launch immediate training courses in digital literacy, using basic programs like Microsoft Word and Microsoft office, presentations via Microsoft sway, customer satisfaction surveys, Cloud of infrastructure, data analytics, and unplug coding program. When there is a WIFI signal, the data will be saved. There are also Python training courses from basic to intermediate levels, for example, and courses in PDF and animation. Furthermore, the Microsoft Teams program can be used to organize training and video conferences for free, for up to 1,000 trainees at the same time.
“A collaborative approach with both agencies will help workers gain higher digital potential, being able to extend knowledge to support modern technology. The initiative encourages workers to have skills that meet the needs of businesses. Therefore, we will continue to discuss cooperation,” concluded the Deputy Labour Minister.
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Division of Public Relations
11 November 2020
