On October 7, 2021, Permanent Secretary of Labour Mr. Boonchob Suttamanaswong chaired the meeting on the demands of informal workers on the International Day on Decent Work. Representatives from the Confederation of Informal Workers and relevant representatives from agencies under the Ministry of Labour attended the meeting at Prasong Rananant Meeting Room, 5th floor, Ministry of Labour.
The spread of COVID-19 since the end of December 2019 has resulted in informal labour groups such as home-grown workers, stall hawkers, motorcyclists, beauticians, domestic workers, and traditional masseuses, who are frontline workers, to affected by the pandemic’s lockdown policy. However, they are a latter group of workers who will be able to recover, restore their lives, the economy and society of informal workers, and their families to continue with human dignity. The Confederation of Informal Workers (Thailand) has called for the Ministry of Labour, 1) To pay compensation for lack of income in the case of illness for insured persons under Section 40 infected with COVID-19 who decided to recover at home. 2) Assist home workers impacted by COVID-19 by reducing the interest to 0 percent for those who borrowed money from the homeworker fund, covering original debtors of the fund before the COVID-19 outbreak. 3) Stimulate the development of foundational economies by suggesting the government return trade areas including fresh markets, flea markets, street food stalls, street vendors, green markets, and markets in government agencies, and for the Ministry of Labour to host negotiations with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration for the maximum benefit of all parties. 4) Request the Ministry of Labour to host negotiations between the Informal Workers Network and the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society to create a platform to promote work, and 5) Ask the Social Security Office to extend various coverages to those insured under Section 40 to reduce risks arising from the country’s economic and social uncertainty.
Mr. Boonchob said that Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin gives importance to informal workers and understands the problems that arise very well. Therefore, he was assigned to help the people and all groups of workers to have a better life. He assured the people that the government under the leadership of Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha, and the Ministry of Labour under the supervision of Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, as well as government officials and all staff of the Ministry of Labour, are ready and willing to work hard together to solve problems for all people to benefit and have a better quality of life.
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Division of Public Relations
7 October 2021
