On January 17, 2022, at the meeting room on the 5th floor, Ministry of Labour, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin welcomed the Employers’ Confederation of Thailand, and informal labor groups, including Chairman of the Bangkok Street Hawker Club, Ms. Yada Phornpetchrampha, President of the Electric Vehicle Taxi Association, Mr. Anuwat Yawut, President of the Suvarnabhumi Taxi Coordinating Association, Mr. Panlop Chayinthhu, representative of the Motorcycle Taxi Association of Thailand, Mr. Santi Patipanarat, President of the Thai Public Taxi Association, Mr. Sadis Chaithieng, representative of the Public Taxi Drivers Association, Mr. Boonserm Sompong, occupational representative, of outdoor artists and entertainers Mr. Suwit Kittitharanon, social worker group representative Mr. Krisada Duanghiran and representative of the Employers’ Confederation of Thailand Ms. Issei Phakhansawat, together with a group of approximately 70 people. The group paid a visit to meet the Labour Minister to express gratitude to the government led by Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha, Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, and the Labour Minister for providing assistance, remedies, and vaccinations to informal workers, enabling them to overcome the COVID-19 crisis in the past year. Assistant to the Labour Minister Mr. Surachai Chaitrakulthong, the Labour Minister’s Advisor, Mrs. Thiwalrat Angkinan, Assistant Minister from the Prime Minister’s Office performing duties for the Ministry of Labour and Mr. Suthi Sukosol, and the Ministry of Labour’s Spokesperson (on politics), Mrs. Theanrat Nawamawat, also joined the occasion.
Mr. Suchart said that today, representatives from informal worker groups from of various occupational groups such as street hawkers, motorcycle taxis, taxis, nightlife workers, social workers groups, and the Employers’ Confederation of Thailand, visited to wish a Happy New Year and express their gratitude for the government’s assistance and remedies during the COVID-19 pandemic, which alleviated the troubles and burden of expenses so that they can live. The Prime Minister has given importance to caring for the workers and entrepreneurs to be healed so that the labour sector can walk on and support the economy to move forward. They have also expedited the draft Act promoting the development of a quality of life and protection of informal workers to shelter them, improve the quality of life and protect the nearly 20 million informal workers.
Chairman of the Bangkok Street Hawker Club, Ms. Yada Phornpetchrampha, said that on behalf of the Bangkok Street Hawker Club, she would like to thank the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan and Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin during COVID-19, allowing members to make rice boxes to take part in the proceeds to help the homeless. Today, she thanked the government officials of the Ministry of Labour for their hard work and said that they are ready to support and encourage everyone’s work in the future.
Representative of the Motorcycle Taxi Association of Thailand, Mr. Santi Patipanarat, thanked Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha and Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan for seeing the importance of motorcycle taxi drivers. He said that they are lucky to have this government provide support during COVID, including receiving vaccinations from the beginning, receiving over 5,000 sets of survival bags, and participating in the preparation of lunch boxes for migrant workers in the worker’s camp which helped members earn more. Most recently, they received career training in cleaning air conditioners last December, making them appreciate the government’s accessibility for support and dependability.
Representative of the Employers’ Confederation of Thailand, Ms. Issei Phakhansawat, said during COVID-19 entrepreneurs were affected as well as employees. The government healed them through programs to promote and maintain employment in SMEs, giving them an identity in society. She thanked Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha and Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin for giving importance to the business sector. Employees were able to continue living, and so must employers. The employee was healed, and the government helped employers too. They also helped solve labour shortages, registering foreign workers to work legally. They were impressed with the government’s support for employers to continue doing business.
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Division of Public Relations
17 January 2022
